Matt Fitzpatrick explained that his caddie echoed the motivational phrasing that Rory McIlroy heard during his 2025 Grand Slam run, and that the familiar encouragement helped the Englishman pull off a dramatic playoff win at the RBC Heritage on Sunday. During the final round at Harbour Town Golf Links, Fitzpatrick saw a comfortable four‑stroke lead evaporate.
A bogey on the 18th hole dropped him to a one‑under 70, forcing a sudden‑death playoff against world number one Scottie Scheffler. Undeterred, Fitzpatrick launched his first extra‑hole tee shot, landed his approach within 12 feet of the pin, and then rolled his birdie putt into the cup, securing his fourth PGA Tour title and his second victory in as many starts. The scenario echoed McIlroy’s own experience at Augusta last April. The Northern Irish star had a late‑round stumble before beating Justin Rose in a playoff to complete the career Grand Slam.
McIlroy later revealed that his caddie, Harry Diamond, had delivered a specific line of encouragement that steadied him. Fitzpatrick said his own caddie, Daniel Parratt, used a similar line, prompting a laugh and a surge of confidence. "He actually said, ‘Getting to the tee, we’d have taken this start of the week,’" Fitzpatrick recounted.
"I knew Rory had said that the other week, so I joked, ‘Oh, here’s Harry Diamond.’ We had a good laugh, and I felt in a great spot. The four‑iron I hit was out of this world." Fitzpatrick entered the final day with a three‑stroke advantage and was briefly four shots clear. However, a late stumble and two consecutive birdies from Scheffler erased the margin, sending the tournament into its fourth playoff in five years.
"Just a lot of grit," Fitzpatrick said of his comeback. "I started well, then had a poor three‑putt on the second hole and thought about what could have been. I would have taken it before I teed off, but I knew Scottie was going to make some birdies down the stretch, so I had to hang in there." He added that the RBC Heritage held a special place in his heart. "Growing up, this was a tournament I wanted to win—maybe even more than any major before I fully understood the game.
To win it twice means the world to me. To go toe‑to‑toe with Scottie on the 73rd and cross the line was special." The gallery at Harbour Town added its own flavor to the drama.
American Ryder Cup fans, who had been cheering loudly for Scheffler, began singing familiar U.S. chants during the playoff. Fitzpatrick took the moment in stride, offering a light‑hearted jab.
"No, Americans are incredibly patriotic and I think that was amazing," he said. "The only issue is they have shorter memories because we won in October." He praised the crowd’s energy, noting that the noise never crossed the line into distraction. "No one was shouting during backswing, which was great. I love the atmosphere.
I grew up watching football, and I’m paid a lot to play in front of these crowds. Hearing them chant every week is a great feeling. But there’s no better feeling than winning against your biggest rival with that kind of support behind you." Scheffler, for his part, thanked the spectators.
"It’s always nice to get some support from the crowd. They were cordial, cheering for me without trying to drown out Fitzy, so I appreciate that," he said. Scheffler posted a bogey‑free 67, carding four birdies and joining Fitzpatrick at 18 under par, yet he finished 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 to finish second to McIlroy, and his strong weekend at the Heritage kept him in contention for a second title in three years.
"I did some solid stuff," Scheffler reflected. "I think I had only one bogey over the weekend, so I executed a lot of good golf. I would have liked a few more putts to drop, but overall I played the way I wanted.
Both weeks I was behind the eight‑ball at the weekend, then had nice 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 Fitz needed something to happen, he made it happen. He definitely earned the win and 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 retain their title.
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