Fitzpatrick A Winner Again At Brookline As US Open Champion
Jun 19, 2022, 5:22 PM | Updated: 5:24 pm
Matt Fitzpatrick of England celebrates with the U.S. Open Championship trophy after winning during the final round of the 122nd U.S. Open Championship at The Country Club on June 19, 2022 in Brookline, Massachusetts. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images)
(Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images)
BROOKLINE, Mass. (AP) — Matt Fitzpatrick of England is a champion again at The Country Club, this time with the grandest of trophies.
A U.S. Amateur champion in 2013. The U.S. Open champion Sunday.
In a three-way battle at Brookline that came down to the wire, Fitzpatrick seized control with a great break and an even better shot on the 15th hole for a two-shot swing. He was even more clutch from a fairway bunker on the 18th that set up par for a 2-under 68.
BREAKING: @MattFitz94 wins the 122nd @usopengolf. 🏌️♂️⛳️#USOpen
📷: Getty Images pic.twitter.com/agctVBhTQ5— KSL Sports (@kslsports) June 19, 2022
Victory was not secure until Will Zalatoris, who showed amazing fight back from every mistake, dropped to his knees when his 15-foot birdie putt on the 18th just slid by the left side of the cup. Zalatoris was a runner-up in the second straight major.
Masters champion Scottie Scheffler never recovered from back-to-back bogeys to start the back nine. He had a 25-foot birdie chance on the 18th that just missed and left him one behind.
The King of The Country Club! @MattFitz94 is the 122nd #USOpen champion! pic.twitter.com/OLowqMBsgV
— U.S. Open (USGA) (@usopengolf) June 19, 2022
Fitzpatrick is the second man to win a U.S. Amateur and U.S. Open on the same course, joining Jack Nicklaus who turned the trick at Pebble Beach. Juli Inkster won the U.S. Women’s Amateur and U.S. Women’s Open at Prairie Dunes.
Along with the $3.15 million in prize money, Fitzpatrick had that gold Jack Nicklaus medal draped around his neck.
Fitzpatrick, who briefly played at Northwestern before turning pro, won for the eighth time worldwide, and this was his first in America — at least a tournament everyone knows about.
The first player from outside the United States to win the #USOpen and #USAmateur = @MattFitz94 🏆🏆#LexusGolf | @Lexus pic.twitter.com/liwg0q51p8
— U.S. Open (USGA) (@usopengolf) June 19, 2022
Fitzpatrick said he won the member-member at The Bear’s Club in Florida at the start of the year, the course Nicklaus built.
“He gave me a bit of abuse at the start of the year. He said, ‘Finally. Congratulations for winning in the States,’” Fitzpatrick said.
And then slightly lifting the trophy, Fitzpatrick sent a fun message to Nicklaus: “Jack, I won a second time.”
