Matthew Fitzpatrick has been crowned US Open champion after seeing off Will Zalatoris in a tense final round at The Country Club in Brookline. The Englishman repeated the heroics he showed at the US Amateur nine years prior on the exact same course, to write his name into the golf history books.
The day began with Fitzpatrick and Zalatoris leading the way, as they headed into the final round tied at the top on four-under-par. The man snapping at their heels though was world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, and a quick start from the recently crowned Masters champion saw his name jump to the top after birdieing four of his first six holes.
Meanwhile in the final group, it was the Englishman who started quickest, as he himself found two early birdies across his opening five holes to leave him six-under the tournament - level with Scheffler at the top. Zalatoris however struggled to get going early on, as back-to-back birdies at two and three left him trailing the the two leaders, after being the man on top just half-an-hour or so before hand.
This was a major championship Sunday though, and the golf - and drama - was far from over, especially just six holes in. Scheffler's hot start quickly cooled down, as three pars followed his birdie-filled start, before consecutive bogeys saw him drift away from top spot.
As the world No. 1 went one way Zalatoris went the other, as he looked to turnaround his struggling start in the hunt for his first major. The young American star was no stranger to contending on a major Sunday despite his limited experience, and birdies at six, seven and the ninth saw him make his move to No. 1 alongside his English rival.
In typical Fitzpatrick fashion the 27-year-old was going about his business patiently on the course he first made a name for himself nine years ago. Nothing on a US Open Sunday is simple though, and back-to-back bogeys at the turn on 10 and 11 saw him surrender his lead, giving Zalatoris a precious two-shot advantage.
The English star has endured a number of near misses in what has been a remarkable campaign, especially at the last major on the calendar, last month's PGA Championship. Despite his mid-round blip, it seemed as if Fitzpatrick was not ready to let this one go without a fight, as he brought up arguably the biggest roar of the afternoon in front of a packed Massachusetts crowd.
After a safe shot into the 13th green, the 27-year-old left himself a lengthy putt at birdie - but knew if he made it he would pile the pressure on his leading playing partner. And make it he did, as he rolled in a putt worthy of any major championship win to hand the nerves over to Zalatoris.
The American youngster is built differently though, and followed in Fitzpatrick with a superb putt of his own to remain the man to catch. What was not in Zalatoris' plans though was to follow his moment of magic up with bogeys at 12 and 15, but this is what followed. Fitzpatrick meanwhile knew he had a chance to claim some breathing space, and whilst the American went one way, he went the other with birdies at 13 and 15 to move him two shots ahead.
As was the pattern of the day though this breathing space did not last long, as an immediate birdie for Scheffler two groups ahead at 17, and one for Zalatoris at 16 ensured the Englishman's lead with two holes to play was just one shot. Ahead of the leaders, the world No. 1 could only make par to ensure he headed into the clubhouse at five-under. A hole back at 17, Fitzpatrick and Zalatoris both holed for par to ensure this title was to be decided on the 72nd hole of the tournament, with the Englishman one ahead.
The pair went down 18, and off the tee it seemed it was advantage Zalatoris as he sent a stunning drive down the fairway whilst Fitzpatrick found the sand. The final hole of the event seemingly summed up the whole final day though, as the Englishman pulled off a superb iron shot from the sand to meet his American rival on the putting surface. It would be the battle of the putter to settle the title, and it was Fitzpatrick who would prevail as both two-putted, to see the Sheffield man repeat his Brookline heroics nine years on.
