Matt Fitzpatrick has revealed that his caddie's words of encouragement, similar to those used by Rory McIlroy during his 2025 Grand Slam win, helped him secure a dramatic playoff victory at the RBC Heritage on Sunday. Fitzpatrick had let a four-shot lead slip away during the final round, but his caddie's advice, which echoed McIlroy's experience, inspired him to win his fourth PGA Tour title.
The English golfer fired an impressive approach shot on the first playoff hole and sank a winning birdie putt to defeat world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler. Fitzpatrick's caddie, Daniel Parratt, had told him, 'we'd have taken this start of the week,' which were similar words to what McIlroy's caddie, Harry Diamond, had said during the Masters. Fitzpatrick joked that his caddie was channeling Diamond, and the advice gave him the confidence to make a remarkable comeback.
With this win, Fitzpatrick has now won two tournaments in a row, and he expressed his gratitude for the support of the crowd, despite being outnumbered by Scheffler's fans. Fitzpatrick even poked fun at the American fans, saying they had short memories, given that the European team had won the Ryder Cup in October.
Scheffler also praised the crowd, saying they were supportive and respectful. The PGA Tour now heads to Louisiana for the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, where Andrew Novak and Ben Griffin will defend their title.