Will Zalatoris after third second-place finish at major - 'This one hurts'

BROOKLINE, Mass. — Will Zalatoris came up short again and this time, he thought he had it.

After missing a 14-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole that would have put him in a playoff with winner Matt Fitzpatrick, Zalatoris couldn't help but sigh as he was given the silver medal for runner-up. After speaking to the media while screens showed Fitzpatrick hoisting the trophy, Zalatoris walked off with a forced smile. He had to exit the stage to let the champion come through.

«This one, in particular, hurts pretty hard,» said Zalatoris, who now has six top-10 finishes in nine major starts, including three second-place finishes. «I'm three shots away from practically being a — having a chance of being a three-time major champion. A bounce here or there.»

The 25-year-old went into Sunday at the U.S. Open without a major win or a PGA Tour win, yet with a lot of confidence. He had said Saturday that his recent second-place finish in a playoff to Justin Thomas at this year's PGA Championship had given him the belief he could be one of the best players in the world. But belief couldn't push his putt a few inches closer to the hole.

«With about six feet to go, I thought I had it,» Zalatoris said of his putt. «It stings obviously. To have three runner-ups so far in my career in majors.»

Zalatoris came into Sunday tied for the lead with Fitzpatrick. He struggled early, making two bogeys on the first five holes before his ever-elusive putter caught fire. He birdied four of the next six holes and, at one point, held a two-shot lead over Fitzpatrick.

«I battled like crazy,» Zalatoris said, calling his driving «atrocious» on the week and adding that his hip was bothering him. The 2021 Masters runner-up's usual problems have come with his