Rory McIlroy hailed the work ethic of new US Open champion Matthew Fitzpatrick after sharing a personal moment with the emotional Englishman as he walked off the 18th green at Brookline.
Fitzpatrick held his nerve down the stretch to secure his first ever major title, finishing one shot clear of World No1 Scottie Scheffler and Will Zalatoris who tied for second.
And McIlroy, who finished T5, four shots off the champion, was one of the first to embrace the 27-year-old as he made his way off the final green.
