Matt Fitzpatrick explained that his caddie's words, echoing the motivational phrases used by Rory McIlroy during his 2025 Grand Slam run, helped spark 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 cushion, but a late‑day bogey on the 18th dropped his total to one‑under 70, forcing a sudden‑death showdown with world number one Scottie Scheffler. On the first extra hole, Fitzpatrick launched a precise approach that landed just 12 feet from the pin.

He then rolled in a clutch birdie putt to claim his fourth PGA Tour title and his second victory in as many starts. The scene mirrored McIlroy’s own comeback 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 his career Grand Slam. Fitzpatrick said his caddie, Daniel Parratt, quoted a line McIlroy had used with 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 recalled after his win.

"I knew Rory had said that the other week, so I joked with Dan, ‘Oh, look, Harry Diamond is here.’ We had a good laugh, but it put me in a great mindset. Hitting that four‑iron felt out of this world." Fitzpatrick had carried a three‑shot lead into Sunday and was briefly four shots clear before a mis‑step on the final two holes and two consecutive birdies by Scheffler erased the margin.

The resulting playoff marked the fourth time in five years that the Heritage has been decided on extra holes. "Just a lot of grit," Fitzpatrick said of his perseverance. "I started strong, then had a terrible three‑putt on the second hole and thought about what could have been. I would have taken a penalty if I felt I’d messed up before I teed off again.

I knew Scottie was going to make some birdies down the stretch, so I had to hang on." He added that the Heritage had been a tournament he dreamed of winning since childhood, perhaps even more than any major before he truly understood the game. "Winning it twice means the world to me.

To go out there, square off with Scottie, and finish on the 73rd hole is special," he said. During the playoff, Fitzpatrick also took a light‑hearted jab at American Ryder Cup fans, who were loudly cheering for Scheffler. After sinking the winning putt, he cupped his hand to his ear and smiled at the gallery on the 18th green. When asked whether he found the U.S.

crowd’s chanting odd, he replied, "No. Americans are incredibly patriotic and I thought it was amazing. The only issue is they have short memories because we won in October." Despite the teasing, Fitzpatrick praised the atmosphere. "It never crossed the line – no one was shouting during backswing – which was great.

I love the fans. They're supporting Scottie, and that’s fine.

Golf needs atmosphere. I grew up watching football, and now I get paid to play in front of crowds.

Hearing them chant every week is a fantastic feeling." He continued, "There’s no better feeling than coming out on top against your biggest rival, and the fans helped push me. It was loud, but it never got out of hand." Scheffler, for his part, expressed gratitude for the supportive crowd. "It’s nice always to get some support from the crowd.

I thought they were pretty cordial, cheering for me and not against Fitzy, so I was definitely appreciative of that," he said. Scheffler posted a bogey‑free 67, carding four birdies and joining Fitzpatrick at 18 under par, only to finish runner‑up for the second straight week on the PGA Tour.

He had come from 12 shots behind at the halfway point of the Masters the week before, finishing second to McIlroy, and then surged again at the Heritage, keeping his challenge for a second title in three years alive. "I did some solid stuff," Scheffler noted. "I think I had only one bogey over the weekend, so I executed a lot of good golf. I wish a few more putts had dropped, but overall I played the way I wanted.

Both weeks I found myself behind the eight‑ball going into the weekend, then turned it around with strong Saturdays and Sundays to get into contention. On Sunday, it’s a shot here or there that makes the difference.

This was one of those weeks where whenever Fitzy needed something to happen, he made it happen. He definitely earned the win and just played great golf." The PGA Tour now moves 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 look to repeat their success.

Live coverage will begin Thursday at 1 p.m., with full broadcasts from 8 p.m., available on Sky Sports or via a no‑contract streaming service.