Scottie Scheffler came within touching distance of another big PGA Tour win at the RBC Heritage, only for one costly mistake at the worst possible moment to change everything. With $3.6 million set aside for the winner at Harbour Town, the world No. 1 had forced his way back into contention on Sunday before a poor approach on the 72nd hole opened the door for Matt Fitzpatrick to finish the job in a playoff.
The drama was reflected in the CBS commentary booth, where veteran broadcaster Jim Nantz could hardly believe what he was seeing. Search coverage of the broadcast captured Nantz reacting to Scheffler’s second shot with a stunned call of “Way, way, way back. Way back,” after the ball came up well short.
Scheffler had built real momentum during the final round, cutting into Fitzpatrick’s lead and applying the kind of pressure that usually defines his closing stretch. But from 186 yards on the last hole of regulation, his approach fell 37 yards short of the green in the wind, a miss that proved decisive given the stakes and the form he had shown the rest of the afternoon.
Fitzpatrick took full advantage. After surviving the charge to reach extra holes, the Englishman produced the superior approach shot in the playoff, hitting a four-iron to roughly 12 feet before converting the birdie chance to secure his second RBC Heritage title. The win earned Fitzpatrick the $3.6 million top prize, while Scheffler had to settle for the runner-up payout of $2.16 million.
The result extended a strong run for Fitzpatrick, whose victory was reported as his second PGA Tour win in a month and lifted him to a career-high No. 3 in the world rankings. For Scheffler, it was another near miss after also finishing runner-up at the Masters, and this one will sting because the turning point came from a shot so uncharacteristic of the game’s most reliable closer.
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