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
Not a great start for Jordan Spieth, who pulled a 10ft birdie putt at the first and then bogeys the second after missing the green short and right at the long par 3.
Thomas couldn’t hole that short one for par at the first either and has slipped back to +4. He will have the chance to make amends at the third, though, after a great blind approach that runs up to the green and settles about 15ft from the flag.
US Open 2022: Latest final round scores
Mackenzie Hughes and Patrick Cantlay are both off to bright starts in their final rounds and are now at +2, six shots back of the lead.
England’s Callum Tarren endured a torrid third round after leading by two shots at one stage on Friday. He’s recovering well today though and is one under through 13 and in a tie for 45th at +6.
US Open 2022: Latest final round scores
Justin Thomas hasn’t had the week he’s wanted, having come into the tournament in such a great run of form.
The PGA champion has just got his final round underway but pulls his approach at the first left and is forced to hit a wonderful flop shot over the greenside bunker. There’s still a bit of work left to save par though. He’s currently +3.
US Open 2022: Latest final round scores
To say Grayson Murray is not a happy bunny out there would be somewhat of an understatement. The American, who is nine over for his round through 12 holes, has laid waste to his wedge.
US Open 2022: Latest final round scores
Despite most of the players out on the course currently struggling, there are still certainly opportunities to go low.
One person proving that is Guido Migliozzi. After birdieing three of his opening five holes, the young Italian has just eagled the par-5 8th with a fine putt from 11ft. He’s now +2 for the tournament which is a very respectable tied-17th.
US Open 2022: Latest final round scores
It’s been a tough afternoon for Koepka’s arch-rival Bryson DeChambeau too. The American is three over for his round. His next outing will, of course, be at the controversial LIV Golf event in Portland in a fortnight’s time.
US Open 2022: Latest final round scores
Brooks Koepka might have won this tournament twice, but he is enduring something close to a nightmare at the start of his final round.
After a double-bogey at the third, where his tee shot was pulled way left and found the cart path, he is in dire trouble again at the short par-4 5th. His drive found the deep rough short of the green, his pitch then sailed over the back and a three-putt seals another miserable double. He’s at +9 now.
US Open 2022: Latest final round scores
Grayson Murray is not in a good way, he’s thrown his putter into the rough following a triple bogey.
A nightmare finish at Brookline and a painful final few holes with his bag a little lighter.
US Open 2022: Latest final round scores
There’s more misery for another LIV Golf player, after DeChambeau’s painful start.
Patrick Reed all but walking this one in from 15 feet on four, but it burns the edge. He can’t believe it.
He’ll stick at +8 for the tournament, way back in 51st.
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