[US Open] Fitzpatrick "First Win is a Major"... Zellerothis "Tears of Another Runner-up" (Summary)

Third Major of the Season, 122nd US Open Final Day Adds 2-Under Par for '1-Stroke Victory', 'Number 1' Scheffler Ties for 2nd Place

Matt Fitzpatrick is celebrating with the trophy immediately after his 122nd US Open victory. Brooklyn, USA = Getty Images / Multibits Photo by Getty Images

[Asia Economy Golf Specialist Reporter Kim Hyun-jun] "The first non-American to win both the US Amateur and the US Open."

World No. 18 Matt Fitzpatrick (England) added 2-under par on the final day of the 122nd US Open, the third major of the PGA Tour, held on the 20th (Korean time) at The Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts (par 70, 7,264 yards), to secure a one-stroke victory (6-under 274). This marks his first PGA Tour win and his seventh overall on the DP World Tour (European Tour). The winner's prize money is a whopping $3.15 million (40.8 billion KRW).

Fitzpatrick has a special connection to this course, having won the US Amateur Championship here in 2013. To carry on the momentum from his US Amateur victory nine years ago, he did not hesitate to revisit the house where he stayed at that time. The American newspaper The Boston Globe reported, "Fitzpatrick rented a member's house belonging to Will Fulton at The Country Club in 2013 and this year he slept in the same bed."

Fitzpatrick mainly competed on the DP World Tour and increased his PGA Tour appearances starting in 2016. His best results before this were second place at the Arnold Palmer Invitational in March 2019 and the Wells Fargo Championship last May. However, in this tournament, he quickly entered the title race by shooting 2-under on the first day, even par on the second, and 2-under on the third day to share the lead. On the final day, he recorded five birdies and three bogeys, with a standout ‘needle-like iron shot’ that missed the green only once.

Matt Fitzpatrick is cheering after making a birdie on the 13th hole on the final day of the 122nd US Open. Brooklyn, USA=Getty Images/Multivitz

Although he started well with birdies on holes 3 and 5, consecutive bogeys on holes 6, 8, and again on 11 and 12 in the back nine allowed Will Zalatoris (USA) to take a one-stroke lead. Fitzpatrick reclaimed the lead by one stroke with ‘stepping stone birdies’ on holes 13 and 15, raising both arms in celebration. The decisive moment came on the final 18th hole (par 4). His tee shot landed in a fairway bunker, but he executed a picture-perfect fade shot onto the green and ultimately made the ‘winning par.’

"I’m so happy to achieve my first win at a major," said Fitzpatrick, adding, "The birdie on the 15th hole was the turning point. My most regrettable shot this year was the tee shot on the 18th hole, and my best shot was the second shot." The organizers increased the total prize money by $5 million from last year's $12.5 million to $17.5 million, resulting in a $3.15 million jackpot and catapulting him to 7th place in the prize money rankings ($6.13 million). He expressed determination, saying, "My driving distance has increased over the past two years, so I expect even better results in the future."

Zalatoris settled for second place (5-under 275) after his 4.3-meter birdie putt on the 18th hole just missed the hole, sending the tournament to a playoff. This marks his third runner-up finish in majors, including the Masters last April and the PGA Championship last month. World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler (USA) joined him in second place, while defending champion Jon Rahm (Spain) finished tied for 12th (1-over 281). It is interesting that LIV Golf star Dustin Johnson (USA) finished tied for 24th (4-over 284). South Korea’s Kim Joo-hyung (20) finished 23rd (3-over 283).

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.