Photo/Illutration Hideki Matsuyama, of Japan, watches his shot on the 17th hole during the final round of the U.S. Open golf tournament at The Country Club, Sunday, June 19, 2022, in Brookline, Mass. (AP Photo)

Matt Fitzpatrick returned to the site of his 2013 U.S. Amateur victory and claimed his first major championship Sunday, shooting a 2-under-par 68 to win the U.S. Open at The Country Club in Brookline, Mass.

The Englishman outdueled Will Zalatoris down the stretch with crucial birdies at the par-4 13th and 15th holes. After Fitzpatrick tapped out for par at the last hole, Zalatoris had a birdie putt to force a playoff that missed a hair to the left.

Fitzpatrick, 27, posted a 6-under 274 for the week, beating Zalatoris and world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler by a stroke. Fitzpatrick is the first player from England to win a U.S. Open since Justin Rose in 2013, the same year Fitzpatrick outlasted a talented field to claim the prestigious amateur title.

Hideki Matsuyama of Japan shot the low round of the week, a 5-under 65, to take fourth place at 3 under. Collin Morikawa (66) and Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland (69) tied for fifth at 2 under.

Fitzpatrick and Zalatoris entered the day as 54-hole co-leaders and played in the final group of the day. Fitzpatrick carded three birdies and a bogey on the front nine before encountering trouble at the par-4 10th and par-3 11th, making consecutive bogeys.

Zalatoris drained a mid-length birdie putt at No. 11 for a two-shot swing. But he gave the shot back with a bogey at the next hole, lessening his lead to one, before another vital two-shot swing at the par-4 15th.

Fitzpatrick sent his drive far right but made an incredible recovery shot, landing on the green and making the ensuing 18-foot putt for birdie. Zalatoris, meanwhile, found a greenside bunker and ended up bogeying down to 4 under.

Zalatoris bounced back with a birdie at the par-3 16th but couldn't complete the rally. He finished second for the second straight major after losing a playoff to Justin Thomas at last month's PGA Championship.

Scheffler charged ahead early with four birdies in his first six holes to take the lead at 6 under, where Fitzpatrick eventually matched him. But for the second straight day, the Masters champion had trouble after the turn. He bogeyed No. 10 and three-putted for another bogey at No. 11.

Several par saves later, Scheffler made a 6-foot birdie putt at No. 17 and got in at 5 under ahead of the final group's last hole.

Denny McCarthy (68), Keegan Bradley (71) and Canada's Adam Hadwin (71) tied for seventh at 1 under. Gary Woodland (69) and Joel Dahmen (71) finished at even par and tied for 10th.

Related News