Matt Fitzpatrick outdueled Scottie Scheffler in a dramatic RBC Heritage playoff, highlighting the PGA TOUR’s growing group of contenders behind golf’s top stars.
Matt Fitzpatrick gave the RBC Heritage a jolt of drama on Sunday, beating Scottie Scheffler in a playoff at Harbour Town Golf Links and reminding everyone that the PGA TOUR has far more than just two headliners.
In a tournament packed with big names, Fitzpatrick’s clutch finish delivered one of the most memorable moments of the 2026 golf season.
The RBC Heritage final round turned into a heavyweight fight between Fitzpatrick and Scheffler, the world No. 1, with both players trading blows late into the afternoon.
Fitzpatrick stayed steady for most of the day, managing the difficult Hilton Head conditions and making key putts when he had to. Even after a costly bogey on the 18th hole opened the door, he didn’t blink.
Back on 18 in the playoff, Fitzpatrick hit the kind of shot that wins tournaments and changes narratives. His long-iron approach into a strong wind set up the winning birdie and left Scheffler needing something special to extend the battle.
He couldn’t find it, and Fitzpatrick walked away with the tartan jacket, $3.6 million, and 700 FedExCup points.
The win also added more weight to a growing story on the PGA TOUR. While Scheffler and Rory McIlroy still sit at the top of the sport, the chase pack keeps getting stronger.
Fitzpatrick now joins names like Collin Morikawa, Xander Schauffele, Tommy Fleetwood, Cameron Young, and Justin Rose in a group capable of making every major feel wide open.
Morikawa, in particular, continued his strong return with a final-round 67 to finish tied for fourth. He also led the field in Strokes Gained: Tee to Green and ranked second in approach play, another sign his game is trending in the right direction.
Scheffler may not have won, but his runner-up finish showed he’s still close. Fitzpatrick just happened to be better when it mattered most.
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