US Open golf 2022 LIVE leaderboard: Matt Fitzpatrick edges Will Zalatoris to win
Fitzpatrick becomes the first English winner of the US Open since 2013
England’s Matt Fitzpatrick produced a moment of magic on his way to claiming his first major title and a historic double in the 122nd US Open at Brookline.
A shot behind playing partner Will Zalatoris with six holes to play, Fitzpatrick holed from 50 feet for birdie across the 13th green to draw level and briefly moved two shots clear with another on the 15th.
World number one Scottie Scheffler closed to within one with a birdie on the 17th and Zalatoris did likewise on the 16th, but the American agonisingly missed from 14 feet for another on the 18th to force a play-off.
The victory means Fitzpatrick joins 18-time major winner Jack Nicklaus as the only players to win the US Amateur and US Open on the same course, Nicklaus doing so at Pebble Beach in 1961 and 1972.
With his brother Alex on the bag, Fitzpatrick won the US Amateur at Brookline in 2013, the same year Justin Rose became the last Englishman to win the US Open at Merion.
For the second major in succession, Fitzpatrick contested the closing round from the final group, having partnered Mito Pereira in the US PGA at Southern Hills last month.
On that occasion a closing 73 meant Fitzpatrick missed out on the play-off between Zalatoris and Justin Thomas by two shots, Thomas securing his second US PGA title in the three-hole shootout.
Three birdies in the first five holes of the final round had vaulted Scheffler into the lead, but Fitzpatrick holed from seven feet for birdie on the third and two-putted the short par-four fifth for another after driving the green.
The 27-year-old from Sheffield then three-putted the sixth from long range to drop his first shot of the day, but his increased length off the tee paid off again on the par-five eighth as he hit the green in two to set up an easy birdie.
That took him back into a share of the lead and he soon led on his own as Scheffler dropped his first shot of the day on the 10th and then three-putted the 108-yard 11th - the hole which cost him a double bogey in round three.
Zalatoris had almost holed his approach to the seventh and also birdied the ninth to close within a shot of playing partner Fitzpatrick, who surprisingly missed from four feet for par on the 10th after splashing out of a bunker.
A birdie on the 11th took Zalatoris into the outright lead for the first time and moments later he had a two-shot lead, Fitzpatrick three-putting from just a few inches closer to the hole on an identical line.
However, Zalatoris bogeyed the 12th and saw his lead wiped out in spectacular fashion on the next, Fitzpatrick letting out a massive roar after holing from 50 feet across the green for an unlikely birdie.
Another birdie on the 15th, coupled with a bogey from Zalatoris, briefly gave Fitzpatrick a two-shot lead but Scheffler and Zalatoris kept up the pressure with birdies on the 17th and 16th respectively.
Zalatoris then left a birdie putt on the 17th fractionally short and agonisingly missed from 14 feet on the last to force what would have been a fourth straight play-off in US Opens at Brookline.
Former Masters champion Hideki Matsuyama posted a closing 65, the lowest round of the week, to claim fourth place on three under, with Rory McIlroy and Open champion Collin Morikawa sharing fifth on two under.
McIlroy felt he was just one great round from claiming a fifth major title and first since 2014 following a battling 73 on Saturday, but mixed four birdies and four bogeys in his first 14 holes and eventually signed for a 69.
Defending champion Jon Rahm began the final round just a shot off the lead but struggled to a closing 74.
US Open 2022: Latest final round scores
Here we go then. Rory McIlroy is about to get his final round underway. The Northern Irishman starts three shots back as he bids to win his first major since 2014. He’s playing alongside Sam Burns, who has already won twice on the PGA Tour this year.
US Open 2022: Latest final round scores
Tarren comes agonisingly close to a birdie at the last but that’s still a fine round of 69 for the Englishman. This week will have done his confidence and ranking points a world of good.
US Open 2022: Latest final round scores
We’ve got to the stage where some of the players teeing off could perhaps muscle their way into contention, although it would take nothing short of a spectacular round.
Seamus Power has holed a nervy 5ft putt for par at the 2nd and he’s just four shots back of the lead. The Irishman is targeting a second successive top 10 finish at the majors after an impressive outing at the PGA Championship last month.
US Open 2022: Latest final round scores
MJ Daffue was the surprise leader at one stage on Friday. The South African endured a horrible day yesterday, tumbling way out of contention with a 78, but a birdie at the last completes a gutsy round of 69 today. He’s T38 as we stand but that could certainly get better rather than worse as this final round unfolds.
US Open 2022: Latest final round scores
It’s been tough going for Xander Schauffele, who was in contention until a 75 yesterday. He’s about to tap in for birdie at the downhill par 3 11th, though, after a magnificent tee shot that settled less than a foot from the flag. That’ll take him to +3.
US Open 2022: Latest final round scores
A nice up and down at the short 4th gets Morikawa to +1. Davis Riley and Sebastian Munoz have also moved to that mark with early birdies.
US Open 2022: Latest final round scores
Marc Leishman has jumped up the leaderboard after back-to-back birdies at 7 and 8. He’s now at +2, where he’s rejoined by Patrick Cantlay, who’s slipped back after a sloppy three-putt at the short 4th.
US Open 2022: Latest final round scores
Collin Morikawa had a dreadful day yesterday, carding a 77 after starting in a tie for the lead. He’s back out there now and is level through his opening three holes after missing a makeable birdie putt.
US Open 2022: Latest final round scores
Tarren holes a lovely putt from the fringe at 14 for a birdie. He’s -2 for his round and now up into a tie for 34th. The Englishman, who is ranked No 445 in the world, has only ever had one top 10 finish on the PGA Tour before, and that came in a weakened field at the Puerto Rico Open in March. This is a great performance and comeback after such a disappointing day yesterday.
US Open 2022: Latest final round scores
Patrick Cantlay has endured a bit of a slump by his own high standards this year but the American is up into a tie for 11th after a fine start to his final round. Birdies at 1 and 2 have taken him to +1 and he’s managed to find the green at the tricky 3rd.
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