Fitzpatrick Holds Off Scheffler to Win RBC Heritage in Playoff

Matt Fitzpatrick has secured his second PGA Tour victory of the season, overcoming a late stumble to defeat world No 1 Scottie Scheffler in a playoff at the RBC Heritage. Fitzpatrick, who had taken a three-shot lead into the final round at Harbour Town Golf Links, seemed in control after extending his advantage with two birdies in his first three holes. However, Scheffler mounted a late charge, closing with consecutive birdies to force a playoff after Fitzpatrick bogeyed the final hole. The Englishman regained his composure, firing his approach to 12 feet on the first playoff hole and sinking the birdie to claim his second RBC Heritage title in four years. 'I got off to a great start, and I knew Scottie would make a few birdies on the final stretch,' Fitzpatrick said. 'I had to hang in there.' The win lifts Fitzpatrick to a career-high world No 3 and makes him the fourth Englishman to achieve multiple PGA Tour victories in the same season. Fitzpatrick started strongly, extending his overnight lead with a 10-foot birdie at the first, but Scheffler remained in contention, tidying up from close range at the second to stay within three shots. A 15-foot birdie from Fitzpatrick at the third restored a four-shot buffer, but both players missed opportunities to pull further clear. The pair traded pars until Scheffler birdied the ninth to reach 16 under, with both players securing close-range pars at the 10th. Fitzpatrick and Scheffler continued to trade pars, with the Englishman holing from 15 feet to save par at the 11th and Scheffler producing a gutsy save from 10 feet at the 14th. Si Woo Kim temporarily cut the lead to two with a birdie at the 15th, but Scheffler responded with a brilliant up and down from the sand to join Kim in tied-second. Scheffler moved within a shot of Fitzpatrick with a birdie at the 16th, but the leader edged closer to the finish line in pars before a clunky chip from the back of the final green led to a two-putt bogey. Fitzpatrick composed himself to find the green in regulation on the first playoff hole, where Scheffler finished short and left himself a difficult par putt. The Yorkshireman coaxed in for birdie to claim his second PGA Tour win in three starts. Scheffler's runner-up finish is his second in as many weeks, following his second-place finish at The Masters last Sunday. Kim was two strokes back in third spot after a final-round 68. 'This was one of those weeks where anytime Fitzy needed something to happen, he made something happen,' Scheffler said. 'He definitely earned the win and played great golf.' The PGA Tour heads to Louisiana for the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, where Fitzpatrick will partner his brother Alex Fitzpatrick in the two-man team event.