Matt Fitzpatrick, fresh off recent wins at the RBC Heritage and Valspar Championship, found himself in a tense situation at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans. Despite a strong start, he relied on his younger brother, Alex, to help secure the victory.
The Fitzpatrick brothers surrendered a significant four-shot lead on the back nine, marked by a costly double-bogey on the 12th and a bogey on the 14th. However, Alex Fitzpatrick made crucial shots to keep the pair tied for the lead heading into the final hole.
On the par-5 18th, Matt delivered an exceptional bunker shot that landed within inches of the hole. Alex, showing remarkable composure, sank the subsequent birdie putt, securing a one-shot triumph for the siblings.
“To win a team event on the PGA Tour with my brother, I don’t know if it gets any better than that,” expressed a jubilant Matt Fitzpatrick, a 2022 U.S. Open champion. “That’s how special it feels. To get over the line the way we did and to hang in there on the back nine is incredible.”
Fitzpatrick Brothers’ Resilience Shines Through After Losing Lead
The English duo finished with a 1-under-par 71 in alternate-shot play, setting a tournament record with a total score of 31-under-par 257. They edged out the teams of Kristoffer Reitan/Kris Ventura and Alex Smalley/Hayden Springer, who tied for second.
“I felt like we played great for the first 11 holes,” Matt reflected. “We were really, really, really steady, really solid.”
“Then I hit a terrible tee shot on 12, terrible second shot on 13, terrible tee shot on 14. I kind of felt like, what the hell is going on here? I felt like I lost my swing. From then on, I felt like I struggled with my game, and I didn’t play well. Alex played fantastic. He really sort of managed to keep us in it.”
“It wasn’t Matt’s finest tee shot on 12, but at least from my point of view, even though it wasn’t his best three-hole stretch (from 12-14), he’s one of the best players in the world,” said Alex, the younger of the two. “For me, it was like it’s only a matter of time before he’ll come back. It was just about trying to keep him involved.”
“As long as I could keep us going, I felt like we were going to hit a couple more good shots coming down the stretch and give ourselves a chance.”
Following the double-bogey, where Matt’s tee shot strayed into trees, his approach on the 13th went long. Alex responded with an impressive flop shot to within two feet, saving par.
On the par-3 14th, Matt’s tee shot found a bunker, and the brothers were unable to make par. However, Matt sank an 8-foot putt on the 15th. After Alex’s long approach on the 16th, Matt chipped close, and Alex again saved par. On the 17th, Alex set up a birdie opportunity for Matt, but the putt was missed.
Dramatic Finish on the Final Hole
Heading to the 18th tee with the lead, Matt’s perfect drive set Alex up for a 260-yard second shot, which landed in a greenside bunker 35 yards from the pin. Matt then executed a spectacular bunker shot, stopping the ball just inches from the hole.
“When I got there, the lie was just absolutely obscenely good. It was literally like it sat on a tee peg,” Matt explained. “I knew that it was going to spin, and I knew I had to kind of be aggressive with it.”
“I’d say it’s as good a bunker shot as I’ve ever hit, but that may be lying. But to hit it the way I did and to finish where it did to make it the most stress-free tap-in of all time pretty much for such a big occasion was really, really nice.”
This significant victory not only secured the trophy but also earned Alex a 2½-year exemption on the PGA Tour.
“I thought I was going to miss the putt, stood over it, even though it was so short. I couldn’t feel my hands, couldn’t feel my legs, couldn’t feel anything,” Alex confessed. “I’m still lost for words. Just an overwhelming emotion of happiness.”
English Translation:
Matt Fitzpatrick, having recently won the RBC Heritage and the Valspar Championship, was in a strong position at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans but needed assistance from his younger brother, Alex, as they neared the finish line.
The Fitzpatrick brothers relinquished a four-shot lead on the back nine after an unfortunate double-bogey on the 12th hole and a bogey on the 14th. However, Alex kept the duo tied for the lead with several critical shots.
On the par-5 18th, Matt executed a remarkable bunker shot that landed just 14 inches from the pin. Alex, overcoming his nerves, sank the birdie putt to clinch a thrilling one-shot victory.
“To win a team event on the PGA Tour with my brother, I don’t know if it gets any better than that,” said Matt Fitzpatrick, 31, who won the U.S. Open in 2022. “That’s how special it feels. To get over the line the way we did and to hang in there on the back nine is incredible.”
Fitzpatrick Brothers Battle Back After Losing Lead
The Englishmen concluded with a 1-under-par 71 in alternate-shot play, achieving a tournament-record total of 31-under-par 257. The teams of Kristoffer Reitan/Kris Ventura (65) and Alex Smalley/Hayden Springer (68) tied for second place.
“I felt like we played great for the first 11 holes,” Matt stated. “We were really, really, really steady, really solid.
“Then I hit a terrible tee shot on 12, terrible second shot on 13, terrible tee shot on 14. I kind of felt like, what the hell is going on here? I felt like I lost my swing. From then on, I felt like I struggled with my game, and I didn’t play well. Alex played fantastic. He really sort of managed to keep us in it.”
“It wasn’t Matt’s finest tee shot on 12, but at least from my point of view, even though it wasn’t his best three-hole stretch (from 12-14), he’s one of the best players in the world,” said Alex, 27. “For me, it was like it’s only a matter of time before he’ll come back. It was just about trying to keep him involved.
“As long as I could keep us going, I felt like we were going to hit a couple more good shots coming down the stretch and give ourselves a chance.”
After the double-bogey, when Matt sliced his tee shot into a group of cypress trees, Matt’s approach to the 13th hole went off the back of the green. Alex executed a beautiful flop shot to within two feet to save par.
On the par-3 14th, Matt’s tee shot landed in a bunker, and he and Alex were unable to get up and down for par. However, on the 15th, Matt sank an 8-foot par putt. After Alex came up 86 feet short of the 16th green, Matt pitched to less than 3 feet, and Alex saved the par. On the par-3 17th, Alex gave Matt a great look at birdie from under 15 feet, but he missed.
Final Hole Heroics
Entering the 18th tee tied for the lead, Matt hit a perfect drive, leaving Alex 260 yards to the hole. He hit their second shot into a left greenside bunker, 35 yards from the hole. Then Matt delivered his brilliant shot, flying the ball next to the hole, where it stopped after one small bounce.
“When I got there, the lie was just absolutely obscenely good. It was literally like it sat on a tee peg,” Matt said. “I knew that it was going to spin, and I knew I had to kind of be aggressive with it.
“I’d say it’s as good a bunker shot as I’ve ever hit, but that may be lying. But to hit it the way I did and to finish where it did to make it the most stress-free tap-in of all time pretty much for such a big occasion was really, really nice.”
The big occasion was not only a victory but also a 2½-year exemption for Alex on the PGA Tour.
“I thought I was going to miss the putt, stood over it, even though it was so short. I couldn’t feel my hands, couldn’t feel my legs, couldn’t feel anything,” Alex said. “I’m still lost for words. Just an overwhelming emotion of happiness.”
