Matt Fitzpatrick bounced back from an agonising near miss at the Players Championship to win the Valspar Championship.
Fitzpatrick had led last week’s Players by one shot on the 17th tee, but a bogey at the 18th hole cost him as Cameron Young closed birdie-par to snatch victory in the tournament that has long been dubbed men’s golf’s ‘unofficial fifth major’.
But Fitzpatrick earned redemption on Sunday at Palm Harbor in Florida, sinking a 15ft-putt to birdie the 18th hole and beat American David Lipsky by one shot.
The 31-year-old from Sheffield carded a three-under-par 68 to finish on 11 under and had to wait for two groups to complete their rounds before his third PGA Tour win was confirmed.
“To come away with a win this week is really special, considering last week’s performance as well,” said Fitzpatrick, who last won on the tour in 2023. “I’ll be honest, it wasn’t an ideal putt on 18. I wasn’t overly keen on it considering my putting performance this week, but to get it done was special.”
Fitzpatrick, who won the DP World Tour Championship in November, says he will have a two-week break before preparing for next month’s Masters.
“I’m obviously very confident in my game right now but what it takes to win a major is very different to what it takes to win on the PGA Tour,” added the 2022 US Open champion. “Particularly the Masters, there’s extra pressure on the Masters, no matter who you are. It just has that standing above all the other events, as well as the majors.
“I’m coming away from this week delighted with where my game’s at, but there’s stuff I want to improve.”
Fellow Englishman Jordan Smith was third on nine under, recording his best finish since joining the PGA Tour this season and bagging a $627,000 pay day, while compatriot Marco Penge tied for fourth on eight under after shooting a level-par final round 71 to secure his best finish on the US circuit.
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