A Rollercoaster Final Round for Alex Fitzpatrick
Alex Fitzpatrick’s journey through the PGA Tour has been nothing short of remarkable, with a series of impressive performances in his first three weeks on the circuit. However, his quest to secure his first individual win at the Truist Championship came to an abrupt end due to a devastating double bogey on the penultimate hole.
The Sheffield golfer, who recently claimed victory in the Zurich Classic of New Orleans alongside his older brother Matt, started the day with a one-shot lead. Unfortunately, the final round turned into a roller-coaster ride, filled with both highs and lows.
One of the most defining moments of the day came on the 17th hole. After recovering from a shaky start and getting back into contention, Fitzpatrick faced a challenging 211-yard hole. He failed to reach the putting surface in two strokes but nearly chipped in for par. His ball grazed the edge of the hole before running eight feet past. The missed putt ultimately dashed his hopes of catching Norwegian Kristoffer Reitan, who secured his maiden PGA Tour win with a 69, finishing two shots ahead of Denmark’s Nicolai Hojgaard and a strong performance from Rickie Fowler, who carded eight birdies in a 65.
Fitzpatrick struggled early in the round, compounding a bogey at the second hole with a double at the next. He turned in three over for his round but managed to bounce back by birding three of his next four holes, keeping himself in contention. However, another costly double at the 17th hole proved to be the turning point, leading him to finish fourth on 12 under after a two-over 73.
“It’s still very surreal; I feel like it’s crazy to be disappointed, but I’m still disappointed,” Fitzpatrick admitted. “I got off to a slow start. I felt like I battled really well out there, and one bad swing cost me on 17.”
Strong Performances from Other Players
Fellow Englishman Tommy Fleetwood finished in a share of fifth on 11 under after a 69, while Rory McIlroy carded his second 67 of the week, securing a share of 19th on five under. Meanwhile, Brandt Snedeker made history by winning his first PGA Tour event in almost eight years at the Myrtle Beach Classic.
The 45-year-old, who serves as the United States Presidents Cup captain, last won a tournament at the 2018 Wyndham Championship. A five-under 66 in this event saw him post 18-under, edging out compatriot Mark Hubbard and securing a spot at next week’s PGA Championship.
England’s Aaron Rai, who had started the day one off the lead, shot a 71 to finish fifth, while five-time major winner Brooks Koepka struggled to maintain his challenge after a 70 left him at 12 under.
Looking Ahead
Despite the disappointment, Fitzpatrick’s recent performances have been impressive, with a third successive top-10 finish and a total of £2m earned in less than a month. With the PGA Championship coming up next week, he will look to build on his momentum and aim for that first individual victory.
For other players, the week was a mix of triumphs and near-misses, highlighting the unpredictable nature of professional golf. As the PGA Tour continues, fans can expect more exciting moments and fierce competition.
