Matt Fitzpatrick defeated Scottie Scheffler in a playoff hole to win the RBC Heritage at Harbour Town on Sunday evening.
Fitzpatrick only needed to make a par on the 72nd hole to win the tournament, but he inexplicably left his chip shot 22 feet short.
The 31-year-old’s ill-timed bogey then set up a playoff against world number one Scheffler, who was probably expected to take advantage.
Fitzpatrick has now revealed what his caddie, Daniel Parratt, told him before the playoff to help him quickly overcome his disappointment.
Fitzpatrick entered the final round with a three-shot lead over Scheffler, so he was the favourite to win the event on Sunday.
However, most would have predicted the American to win the playoff, considering how often he delivers in clutch situations.
Especially with the crowd rooting against him, Fitzpatrick and his caddie deserve extra credit for getting the job done at Harbour Town.
“A lot of grit. It felt like I got off to a great start,” he reflected on his victory. “I knew Scottie was going to make some birdies down the stretch, and I had to hang in there a little bit.
“The only chip shot I have found into the grain all week was in regulation there!”
Fitzpatrick has also shared the thoughtful message Parratt gave him shortly before the playoff hole started.
Fitzpatrick and his caddie joked about the similarity to Rory McIlroy’s exchange with Harry Diamond before the 2025 Masters playoff.
“He said as we were going to get to the tee, ‘We would have taken this at the start of the week.’ And I know Rory said that the other week. I jokingly said, ‘Oh, here he is, Harry Diamond!’
“So we had a good laugh about that. But I felt like I was in a good spot, and then to hit the four iron I hit then was out of this world.”
McIlroy experienced similar disappointment when he made a bogey on the 72nd hole of the Masters last year, setting up a playoff against Justin Rose.
Fitzpatrick counted on McIlroy’s birdie in that situation for inspiration before outduelling Scheffler at the RBC Heritage.
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