US Open Championship final leaderboard
-6 M Fitzpatrick (Eng); -5 W Zalatoris (US), S Scheffler (US); -3 H Matsuyama (Jpn); -2 C Morikawa (US). R McIlroy (NI)
Selected others: +1 J Rahm (Spa); +2 X Schauffele (US); +4 D Johnson (US); +7 J Thomas (US), J Rose (Eng), J Spieth (US); +12 B Koepka (US); +13 B DeChambeau (US)

England's Matt Fitzpatrick was swamped by his family after superbly holding off the world's best players to claim his first major title with a one-shot victory in the US Open at Brookline.

The 27-year-old was also hugged by Rory McIlroy on the 18th green as he became just the third Englishman in 52 years to win the sport's second oldest major.

Fitzpatrick shot a two-under 68 for a six-under total to beat world number one Scottie Scheffler (67) and Will Zalatoris (69) in a gripping battle that went to the final hole.

"It's what you grow up dreaming of," said Fitzpatrick. "It's something I've worked so hard for for such a long time. I've got to give myself credit: I had so much patience."

His win will be remembered for the stunning shot he played from a fairway bunker on the 18th.

In scenes reminiscent of Sandy Lyle's final-hole bunker shot on his way to winning the 1988 Masters at Augusta National, Fitzpatrick launched a high cut at the green, the ball landing 20 feet beyond the flag and spinning a couple of feet closer.

A two-putt par was then enough to spark scenes of sheer jubilation as his mum, dad and brother embraced him on the green.

Sheffield-born Fitzpatrick, who also won the US Amateur title at Brookline back in 2013 joins Jack Nicklaus as the only two men to win both that and the US Open at the same venue - Nicklaus achieved the feat at Pebble Beach.

He is also the first non-American to win both titles.

And he joins 1970 champion Tony Jacklin and 2013 victor Justin Rose as modern-day English winners of the US Open.

Source: BBC

BDST: 1203 HRS, JUN 20, 2022
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