Matt Fitzpatrick (-6) started the scoring on the PGA Tour on Sunday with a grand slam conquest. The 27-year-old Englishman won his first-ever US Open title in Brookline, Massachusetts.
Fitzpatrick triumphed on the same course where he won the amateur title in 2013.
He turned in a final card of 68, two strokes under par, and edged Americans Will Zalatoris (-5) and Scottie Scheffler (-5) by one stroke.
Leading with a shot on the 18th hole, Fitzpatrick sent his tee shot into the bunker. He did, however, reach the middle of the green afterwards and putt twice to confirm the par.
Zalatoris was the only golfer who could force an extension. His putt from about four yards for a birdie didn’t find the bottom of the cup.
He was therefore content with a 2nd place in a second major tournament in a row. He lost in overtime to American Justin Thomas in May at the PGA Championship.
Fitzpatrick hit 17 greens in prescribed strokes. He became the first Englishman to win the U.S. Open since Justin Rose in 2013. That year, Fitzpatrick won the amateur tournament.
He also joined Jack Nicklaus as the only golfers to win the U.S. Open and amateur bent on the same course. Nicklaus had achieved the feat at Pebble Beach in 1961 and 1972.
The round of the day came from the sticks of Japanese Hideki Matsuyama (-3), who shot 65 and grabbed 4th place alone. For his part, the Canadian Adam Hadwin (-1) completed the course in 71 strokes and tied for 7th place.
More details to come.
The Canadian Press
Source: Radio-Canada
