Matt Fitzpatrick lands PGA Tour hat-trick with Valspar Championship win
England's Matt Fitzpatrick makes a clutch birdie on the 72nd hole to win the Valspar Championship by one.
Pos | Player | Total | R4 |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | Matt Fitzpatrick | -11 | 68 |
2 | David Lipsky | -10 | 70 |
3 | Jordan Smith | -9 | 66 |
T4 | Xander Schauffele | -8 | 65 |
T4 | Marco Penge | -8 | 71 |
T4 | Sungjae Im | -8 | 74 |
Matt Fitzpatrick earned instant redemption following his near-miss at last weekend's Players Championship with victory at the Valspar Championship.
Fitzpatrick, 31, closed with a flawless round of 68 highlighted by a 13 footer for birdie on the par-4 18th to finish 11-under par and one shot ahead of American David Lipsky (70).
The win on the fearsome Copperhead Course at Innisbrook Resort completes Fitzpatrick's hat-trick of PGA Tour titles and his first since the RBC Heritage in April 2023.
Fitzpatrick now vaults to third in the season-long FedEx Cup standings, and he will march back inside the world's top 10 when the OWGR updates on Monday.
The win comes just seven days after Fitzpatrick was left deflated to lose out to Cameron Young by one shot at the PGA Tour's flagship event of the season at TPC Sawgrass.
"I think the big thing was I knew I was playing well coming into this week and I wanted to continue that," said Fitzpatrick.
"To do that over four rounds was special this week."
On his clutch birdie putt on 18, Fitzpatrick said: "I wouldn't say I was overly keen on that putt after my putting performance throughout the day but to get it done like that was special."
Once Fitzpatrick had seen Lipsky make par on 18 in the group behind to ensure the win, he received a call from both his wife Katherine and parents.
"They were both so excited," said Fitzpatrick.
"I've not seen Katherine for three weeks so I'm excited to see her, and my parents are coming back out soon.
"They are such special people in my life so just so excited to celebrate this win with them."
Fitzpatrick's victory also brings up a third winning tip in a row for GolfMagic.
GolfMagic Editor Andy Roberts tipped up Fitzpatrick at best odds of 22/1.
Lipsky secured the best result of his PGA Tour career with a solo runner-up finish, one that sends him to 33rd in the FedEx Cup standings and more importantly into the latest Aon Swing 5 spots that grants status into the next Signature Event on the schedule.
Fitzpatrick led an English charge in Sunday's final round at the Valspar Championship, with his compatriots Jordan Smith (third, 9-under par) and Marco Penge (tied fourth, 8-under par) earning the best results of their PGA Tour careers so far.
Penge tied for fourth alongside two-time major champion Xander Schauffele and Sungjae Im.
Elsewhere, Brooks Koepka closed with weekend rounds of 71 to finish 4-under par in a tie for 18th.
Andy Roberts first joined GolfMagic on a month's work experience back in April 2011.
Andy then assumed the role of GolfMagic Editor in 2015.
