US Open Golf 2022: Matt Fitzpatrick wins maiden major as he holds off Scottie Scheffler and Will Zalatoris for glory

Whatever the future direction of travel for golf, it appears in good hands as Matt Fitzpatrick won the US Open in thrilling fashion. Fitzpatrick came into Sunday without a win in America as a professional to his name, and still to break his major duck. Ad/> But he drew on his course victory at the Country Club in Brookline at the US Amateur in 2013 to produce nerveless golf to fend off the challenge of Scottie Scheffler and Will Zalatoris.

U.S. OpenUS Open LIVE: Fitzpatrick holds off Scheffler and Zalatoris to claim first major title14 HOURS AGO He fended them off with brilliant, nerveless golf — aided by his ice-cool caddie Billy Foster who finally got his major win — as a round of 68 was enough to secure a one-shot victory from Scheffler and Zalatoris. The lead changed hands on numerous occasions on Sunday, with Scheffler, Zalatoris and Fitzpatrick trading blows.

It turned Fitzpatrick’s way on the back nine — after he looked like backpedalling with bogeys on 10 and 11 — with a mixture of brilliant play and a slice of luck. He knocked in a stunning birdie putt on 13 to get the momentum going in the right direction. /> Two holes later, Fitzpatrick had a huge break on 15 when his tee shot went way right — but fortunately for the Englishman beyond the thick rough and onto the walkway.

He still had to cash in on his good fortune, and he did that by draining the putt to briefly open up a two-shot lead. /> Masters champion Scheffler kept the pressure on with a superb birdie on 17, as did Fitzpatrick's playing partner Zalatoris, but he closed the door in thrilling fashion on 18. He closed the door after leaving it ajar when finding the bunker off the tee.