– Matt Fitzpatrick (-18) has won his second RBC Heritage, although in reality he has achieved more than just taking a tournament (his fourth victory on the PGA Tour), because he did it in a playoff against the World No. 1, Scottie Scheffler (-18) and in a decidedly hostile environment (let’s make this clear: it was nothing that even remotely approached unsportsmanlike conduct. Simply, in Hilton Head, South Carolina, the majority wanted an American to win, and some even began to chant the famous “U-S-A” from the Ryder, which undoubtedly led Fitzpatrick, once the victory was confirmed, to put his hand to his ear, in a gesture more mischievous and playful than pugnacious)
– And it’s not just that he toppled a great Number One, who carded a final round of 67 with no blemishes on a day that was becoming seriously complicated by the wind. It’s how he did it. Scheffler had handled the round with composure, unhurried, waiting for his moment. Not even the fact of starting three shots off the lead and that Fitzpatrick began with two early birdies affected him in any way. The Englishman, for his part, also managed his margin patiently, avoiding big mistakes and efficiently solving the few delicate situations he had to face. In the final stretch, the Texan, as the excellent competitor he is, changed gear, birdied the 15th and 16th and saved two good pars on 17 and 18, just enough to force a late playoff, since Fitzpatrick made his first bogey of the day (and the fifth of the week) on 18 after failing the recovery with a very poor chip
It’s not just that he won, it’s how he did it, as we said. And we were referring above all to that first and final playoff hole. Playing the 18th at Harbour Town again, now into the wind, and with both players in the fairway, the Englishman struck a superb 4-iron, drawing the ball, to 190 metres from the hole and aggressively aiming for the flag, leaving himself a great birdie chance. Scheffler‘s response, now heavily pressed, was very poor (he came up well short of the green and then left himself a putt of about two metres to save par), but Matt then holed his birdie putt to put a lovely finishing touch on the little feat
– Let’s say, in any case, that Fitzpatrick has won and Scheffler, although he didn’t, hasn’t lost either. He is definitely back in his best form. Now it’s only a matter of (a short) time before he tastes victory again, because his attitude has become positive and patient once more. Besides, even the best in the world can be knocked out at any given moment. What a 4-iron from the lad from Sheffield, who has once again been a child on his beloved island of Hilton Head and will continue to be so next week, playing alongside his younger brother at the Zurich Classic pairs event. Watch out for them
