Matt Fitzpatrick backed to become a dominant force after winning first major

Matt Fitzpatrick has been tipped to become one of the most dominant players in the world following his US Open triumph.

Fitzpatrick held his nerve in a tense climax on Sunday evening to secure his first major title by a shot from playing partner Will Zalatoris and world number one Scottie Scheffler.

Nine years after winning the US Amateur title at Brookline, the 27-year-old from Sheffield made a superb par from a fairway bunker on the 18th to join Jack Nicklaus as the only players to win the US Amateur and US Open on the same course.

Nicklaus, who achieved the feat at Pebble Beach, hailed Fitzpatrick’s closing 68 as “one of the great rounds of golf I have ever seen” in the final round of a US Open, while six-time major winner Nick Faldo hailed an “awesome ball striking display” and “tons of British bottle”.

But it was left to Fitzpatrick’s veteran caddie Billy Foster to predict his employer can continue to improve after climbing to a career-high 10th in the world rankings.

“I think he’s going from strength to strength and he will become one of the most dominant players in the game,” said Foster, who could also celebrate his first major win after near-misses while working for the likes of Seve Ballesteros, Lee Westwood, Darren Clarke and Thomas Bjorn.

“I always thought he was a winner but I must admit I didn’t think he’d become as good as he has. He’s far better than I thought.

“He has an incredible work ethic, no-one works harder. I can see him winning further majors.”

That is precisely what Fitzpatrick aims to do after revealing following his second round that he  believes it takes a tally of six majors – the record for a European player held by Faldo – to be considered a legend of the game.

“That’s the number that we