Matt Fitzpatrick’s victory a win for golf at thrilling US Open

BROOKLINE, Mass. –

Over the final four thrilling hours of U.S. Open, golf’s uncertain future was in the best of hands.

The sport, which is almost always at its best with major titles at stake, was on a wild ride thanks to Matt Fitzpatrick (20-something) and Will Zalatoris (20-somethings trying their first major titles. But they play like they’ve been doing this for years.

There were ties and lead changes as well as enough momentum shifts to make the NBA crowd edgy. There was tension. It was tension.

“When they show future U.S. highlights, that’s when they will be shown,” Zalatoris said. Zalatoris: “When they show the highlights of future U.S. said.

He was referring to the shot Fitzpatrick made from the fairway bunker at No. 18 while leading with one. It was a 9-iron at 156 yards. The shot was lifted out of the sand and had enough power to clear the bunker that guarded the green. It came to rest 18ft above the hole.

Fitzpatrick putted in two putts for his round of 2-under68 and a tournament at 6-under 274.

It wasn’t until Zalatoris’ putt of 14 feet to tie was stopped a millimeter from the cup that the tournament was over. A miss that sent him buckling and gave him his third second place finish in seven starts at majors.

Fitzpatrick’s aide, Billy Foster, cried as he kissed the 18th Flag. It was his first major after forty-years in the business.

The debate over golf’s future was not about the stability of the PGA Tour or how to punish those who defected. Zalatoris suggested it was about Fitzpatrick’s bunker shot, and how it might be included in the list of greatest shots under major-championship stress.

Fitzpatrick said, “It was one of the most beautiful shots I ever hit. said.

The shot and the day occurred at one the most revered shrines of golf. The Country Club outside Boston is the place where Frances Ouimet beat Harry Vardon, one of golf’s greatest players, in a 1913 upset which helped put golf on top in the United States.

Curtis Strange won this U.S. Open in 1988. Justin Leonard made a long shot to win the U.S.’s Ryder Cup victory in 1999.

Some thought that the U.S. Open had outgrown the course and the property. However, the USGA decided to take a chance with the hilly, craggy layout filled with blind shots, crooked fairways and windswept fairways.

The Country Club delivered. Fitzpatrick and Zalatoris also delivered, with support from Scottie Scheffler (the top-ranked Masters champion, who tied for second place with Zalatoris). His best shots on the front nine were his best.

Scheffler was standing near the 18th green, when Zalatoris’ birdie shot missed by less than one inch.

Scheffler said, “When it reached two feet out, it was like, Oh yeah, that one’s inside’ and it went off to my left.” said. “It’s one those deals. You have to get the breaks.

Fitzpatrick was the winner of the biggest breaks that day. There was none greater than Fitzpatrick’s 15th tee-box tie, where he and Zalatoris were facing a blind shot up a hill on the 500-yard Par-4.

Fitzpatrick made a big block. Zalatoris was not as lucky. Fitzpatrick’s ball hit an area that was being trampled by fans. Zalatoris was in dense, lush grass. Fitzpatrick made birdie and Zalatoris made bogey. It was a two shot swing that Zalatoris couldn’t overcome.

“We’re going down and he says, I barely missed the fairway and that I’ve got a terrible lie. He misses it by thirty yards and he’s okay,” said Zalatoris’ caddie, Ryan Goble. “But Matt played great. It was a great experience. So, you can just say, “Yeah. We’ll get him next.”

Fitzpatrick sees this win as a tie-in to his 2013 U.S. title. Amateur, also at The Country Club. He was the second person in history to win the U.S. Open, as well the Amateur. Jack Nicklaus, in 1961 and 1972 at Pebble Beach.

Nicklaus called Fitzpatrick after the win to congratulate him. Fitzpatrick mentioned a different phone call from The Bear after Fitzpatrick’s victory at Nicklaus’ Florida member-member tournament. It was The Bear’s Club.

“He saidFitzpatrick: “Finally congratulations for winning the States,” said.

Nicklaus was razzing Nicklaus. All seven Fitzpatrick professional wins came on the European Tour.

Nicklaus called this time and it was not a joke. Fitzpatrick is finally victorious in the United States.

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02:57ET 20-06-22