Fitzpatrick relishes Ryder Cup payback after $3.6M | Golf News

Matt Fitzpatrick disregarded the gang response after defeating world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler in a playoff to seize his second RBC Heritage title. The Ryder Cup champion, however, could not help but take a slight jab at the pro-American spectators.

Fitzpatrick triumphed over Scheffler in a thrilling playoff to declare the $3.6 million prize, turning into only the second a number of winner on the 2026 circuit alongside Chris Gotterup. His victory once again unfolded amid “USA, USA” chants from the gallery, mirroring related moments from his triumph over Cameron Young at last month’s Valspar Championship.

Following the clinching putt, Fitzpatrick appeared to gesture by cupping his hand to his ear in acknowledgment of the surroundings. “Americans are incredibly patriotic. I guess the only issue is they just have shorter memories because we won in October,” Fitzpatrick said of Team Europe’s Ryder Cup win at Bethpage last 12 months. It comes as Donald Trump noticed his golf course raided by protestors after “chaos unleashed.”

“It didn’t get out of line in terms of no-one was shouting on backswings or anything like that, which was great. I’m all for it.

“You need golf to have an environment in my opinion. I grew up watching soccer. I’m paid so a lot money to be on the market in entrance of those crowds, having them chanting at you every week, it is a great feeling.

“However, there’s no better feeling than coming out on top against that. To describe it in my terms it’s kind of winning away against your biggest rival. Nothing to do with Scottie or the players. It’s the fans that have sort of spurred me on there.”

Fitzpatrick’s three-shot benefit at the start of the day had been whittled down to just one by enjoying accomplice Scheffler —runner-up at the Masters the earlier week — heading into the ultimate gap. There, Scheffler mishit a chip and bogeyed, forcing a playoff at 18-under after Fitzpatrick carded a 70 and Scheffler a 67.

“Just a lot of grit, a lot of grit,” said Fitzpatrick after prevailing over Scheffler in a playoff. “I felt like I obviously got off to a great start, and poor three-putt on 2 and you feel like almost what could have been. But I would have taken it before I teed off.

“I knew Scottie was going to make some birdies down the stretch, and I type of had to cling in there a little bit. The only chip shot that I discovered into grain all week was in regulation there.”

In eight appearances this season, he has posted three top-10 results, headlined by triumphs at the Valspar Championship and the RBC Heritage at Harbour Town Golf Links, and he entered the week ranked No. 5 in the FedExCup standings.

Before the final round, Fitzpatrick spoke candidly about his growth on the PGA Tour, acknowledging that his last victory had been at the same event during the 2023 season. “Probably just more nervous,” Fitzpatrick admitted forward of his spherical, reflecting on how he would have approached the second a 12 months in the past.