Scrappy Fitzpatrick hits the shot of his life to win US Open

Scrappy English underdog Matt Fitzpatrick, hardened in steel town Sheffield, endured epic pressure and hit the shot of his life when it mattered most on Sunday to win the US Open.

The 27-year-old blasted a stunning 9-iron from a left fairway bunker onto the 18th green and two-putted for par from 18 feet to capture his first major title.

"It's one of the best shots I ever hit. There's no doubt about it," he said. "That probably is such a huge shot in the moment.

"If I'm honest, I look back to my three approaches into 15, 16, and 17 as all really good shots -- 18 was kind of just a bit of hit and hope.

"It just all happened so fast. It was like just kind of natural ability took over... it was amazing.

"The feeling is out of this world. It's stuff you dream of as a kid. To achieve it, I can retire a happy man tomorrow."

Fitzpatrick credits his upbringing with developing the work ethic and discipline that paid off with a dream come true at The Country Club, where he had won the 2013 US Amateur.

"It's a steel town, but I love Sheffield. It's great. It's where I'm from. It's where my football team's from. It's where all my best pals are from," Fitzpatrick said.

"I feel like I'm the same deal. Not expected to do well, not expected to succeed. I've won a major today.

"I feel like I certainly work hard for it, and that's kind of where I've grown up from is that's the mentality of everyone around there. It's certainly like underdog mentality and you work for what you get."

For the past two years, part of that effort has been a fitness training program that has him hitting longer off the tee.

"Since I've been hard on it from the start this year, I've noticed an even bigger jump without really feeling like I'm going after it," Fitzpatrick