Jordan Spieth had the tournament in his putter twice during a playoff with Matt Fitzpatrick at the RBC Heritage Sunday at Harbor Town Golf Links on Hilton Head Island, SC
He couldn’t send the ball home on either birdie attempt and Fitzpatrick made him pay.
Fitzpatrick won the tournament with a tap-in birdie after an approach shot with his 9-iron on the 18th hole; it was the second time in the playoff they had returned to the final par-4 hole. Spieth had a long birdie putt that he certainly tested, knowing Fitzpatrick had the lead after his shot landed inches from the hole.
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Jordan Spieth of the United States reacts to his birdie attempt on the 16th green during the final round of the RBC Heritage at Harbor Town Golf Links on April 16, 2023 in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. (Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)
But Spieth couldn’t hit that one either, and all he could do was watch Fitzpatrick celebrate the victory that could have been his if two putts were millimeters the other way.
On the first playoff hole, Spieth found himself in prime position after Fitzpatrick hit his birdie attempt beyond the hole. Spieth read the line and looked confident as he closed in on the ball.
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He put a little touch on it, using the downslope green to do most of the work as the ball began to slide towards Spieth’s desired destination. But instead of falling into the cup for his 13th PGA Tour victory, the ball went off the right edge and came to rest next to the hole.
Spieth couldn’t believe it when his initial lift from the club to celebrate turned into a hat toss in disbelief. He hit that for par and watched as Fitzpatrick hit a short putt to send the playoff to the 17th hole.
The par 3 17th saw Fitzpatrick and Spieth hit beautiful tee shots right on the pin, giving them great chances to finish it off. Fitzpatrick hit the green first and hit his ball downhill a bit into the cup. But just as he did in regulation, Fitzpatrick misread the 17th green and watched as the ball stayed true to its line and never rolled back toward the hole.
So again, Spieth was in the driver’s seat as he approached his putt. And once again, the line looked perfect for Spieth, but he needed another ounce of power as the ball drifted away from the hole just short of reaching him.
Spieth’s smile was one of genuine astonishment, as he couldn’t believe it was happening again.
England’s Matt Fitzpatrick celebrates with the trophy in the Heritage Plaid tartan jacket after winning in a playoff during the final round of the RBC Heritage at Harbor Town Golf Links on April 16, 2023 in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. (Andres Redington/Getty Images)
The two golfers, now on their third playoff hole, returned to the 18th tee where they hit solid shots to set up their approach shots again. Fitzpatrick, however, wasted no time with his 9-iron, hitting it straight and watching as he hit the front of the green and broke loose toward the hole. He looked like he was going to go in, but he stopped short.
Spieth knew what he had to do at the time, using a pitching wedge to try and get him closer. Instead, the ball went further than he would have liked and he dove for the bottom of the green.
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In the end, Fitzpatrick earned his second PGA Tour victory, his first since winning the US Open last year in Brookline, Massachusetts.
It also meant a lot to Fitzpatrick that his parents, who used to take him to Harbor Town where he played with his father, would be there to see him battle Spieth for the win.
This was also the perfect time for Fitzpatrick to take that second Tour win, as the RBC Heritage was one of eight designated events that sees a raised purse in 2022. So, with the purse moved from $8 million to $20 million this year, Fitzpatrick earned $3.6 million after winning the tiebreaker.
Jordan Spieth of the United States reacts to his missed putt on the first hole of the playoffs during the final round of the RBC Heritage at Harbor Town Golf Links on April 16, 2023 in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. (Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)
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Spieth still got a solid payday of $2.18 billion, but is he inches away from nearly $1.5 million more? That’s a hard way to end the weekend.
