Matt Fitzpatrick explained that his caddie echoed the motivational phrasing once used by Rory McIlroy during his 2025 Grand Slam run, and that the familiar encouragement helped the Englishman clinch a dramatic playoff win at the RBC Heritage on Sunday. Fitzpatrick entered the final round at Harbour Town Golf Links with a comfortable four‑shot lead, but a late‑stage bogey on the 18th dropped his score to one‑under 70 and forced a sudden‑death showdown with world number one Scottie Scheffler. On the first extra hole, Fitzpatrick unleashed a precise approach that settled just 12 feet from the pin. He then rolled in a decisive birdie putt to secure his fourth PGA Tour title and his second victory in as many starts.
The scenario echoed a similar collapse and comeback experienced by McIlroy at the Masters in April, when the Northern Irish star recovered from a final‑round stumble to defeat Justin Rose in a playoff and complete the career Grand Slam. Fitzpatrick said his caddie, Daniel Parratt, quoted the exact line McIlroy had heard from his own caddie, Harry Diamond, during that Masters triumph. "He actually said, ‘getting to the tee, we’d have taken this start of the week,’" Fitzpatrick recounted after the win.
"I recognized the quote from Rory’s interview the other week. I joked with Dan, ‘Oh, look, here’s Harry Diamond!’ We had a good laugh, but the words stuck. I felt in a great position, and the four‑iron I hit felt almost otherworldly." Fitzpatrick had carried a three‑shot advantage into the final day and was briefly four shots clear, with former US Open champion Bryson DeChambeau three shots behind with four holes to play. A mis‑hit on the 16th and a string of birdies by Scheffler erased the margin, sending the tournament into its fifth playoff in five years.
"Just a lot of grit," Fitzpatrick said when asked how he managed to stay composed. "I started the round well, then had a terrible three‑putt on the second hole that could have cost me the win.
I knew Scottie was going to make a push, so I had to hang on." He added emotional weight to the victory: "This is a tournament I dreamed of winning as a kid, maybe even more than any major before I truly understood the game. Winning it twice would mean the world to me. To go head‑to‑head with Scottie on the 73rd hole and come out on top feels special." During the playoff, Fitzpatrick also teased American Ryder Cup fans who were loudly supporting Scheffler.
After sinking the winning putt, he cupped his hand to his ear and grinned at the gallery on the 18th green. When asked whether the patriotic chants seemed odd, he replied, "No, Americans are incredibly patriotic and it was amazing. The only thing is their memory is short—they forgot we won in October." He praised the crowd’s energy, noting that the fans never shouted during backswing or interfered with concentration. "I love the atmosphere.
I grew up watching football, and now I get paid to play in front of these crowds. Hearing them chant every week is a great feeling, but there’s nothing like winning against your biggest rival with that kind of support behind you," Fitzpatrick said. Scheffler, for his part, expressed gratitude for the spectators: "It’s nice always to get some support from the crowd.
They were courteous, cheering for me without trying to drown out Fitz. I appreciate that." Scheffler posted a bogey‑free 67, featuring four birdies, to finish at 18 under, just one stroke behind Fitzpatrick. It marked his second consecutive runner‑up finish on the PGA Tour, following a close second to McIlroy at the Masters the week before.
Scheffler reflected on his own performance, noting, "I only had one bogey over the weekend, executed a lot of good shots, and wish a few more putts had dropped. I put myself behind the eight‑ball at the halfway point, then had strong Saturdays and Sundays to get into contention.
On Sunday, a single shot can make the difference, and Fitzy made the right ones when needed. He earned the win and played great golf." Looking ahead, the PGA Tour will travel to Louisiana for the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, a two‑man team event at TPC Louisiana where defending champions Andrew Novak and Ben Griffin will try to retain their title.
Sky Sports will broadcast live coverage throughout the week, with early action starting Thursday at 1 p.m. and full coverage from 8 p.m., offering a contract‑free streaming option for golf fans.
Overall, Fitzpatrick’s triumph at the RBC Heritage highlighted the power of familiar encouragement, the importance of mental resilience, and the electric influence of a supportive crowd. By channeling the same words that once spurred McIlroy to a Masters victory, Fitzpatrick turned a potential collapse into a career‑defining win, demonstrating that a well‑timed pep talk can be just as decisive as a perfectly struck iron.