Fitzpatrick, a shot in the gallery and a real greeting from Nicklaus

The uncertain future of golf – due to the war between the two great circuits and the recently created ‘Superliga’ with the Saudi capital- has been in the safest hands in the last four hours of US Open at The Country Club. They are, with the permission of world number 1 scottie schefflerthe legacy of two 20-somethings trying to win their first big title but playing as if they’ve been doing it for years: Matthew Fitzpatrick and Will Zalatoris.

Ultimately, a well -aimed shot from a fairway bunker on the final hole he will always remember putting Fitzpatrick’s trophy in hand, and a narrow missed putt was left in Zalatoris ’head after a second consecutive failure. . in a ‘big’ and within a month.

“When they show future highlights at the U.S. Open, one of them will show up, because it’s incredible,” said Zalatoris, referring to Fitzpatrick’s bunker shot at the 18th fairway, when he was leading one. It’s a 9 iron from about 140 meters to green. The shot ended when the ball was on the green, about 6 meters from the flag.

Fitzpatrick hit two putts to close out his round with 68 (-2) and a total of 274 (-6). But until Zalatoris ’12 -foot putt stopped to equalize a few millimeters to the left of the cylinder after grazing the hole – which marked his third second -place finish in seven majors appearances – the tournament was decided. in favor of the British.

With tears in his eyes, Fitzpatrick’s caddy, Billy Foster, kissed the flag of the 18th; it was also his first major. As Zalatoris suggested, this is about where the 9-iron from Fitzpatrick’s bunker can fit into the pantheon of the best shots hit under pressure in a Grand Slam. “It was one of the best shots I’ve hit in my career, downhill,” Fitzpatrick said, and the fact that the shot, and the day, came at one of golf’s holiest shrines is just fitting.

Some thought the US Open had already surpassed their chosen course, the Country Club, but the USGA decided to venture down a rugged, windy, hilly path full of blind shots and dog-legged fairways everywhere. . A head office owned Jon Rahmtied at 12th at the end, described it as “the best and most prepared in recent years”.

Scheffler was watching near the 18th green for Zalatoris ’birdie putt that was less than an inch. “When I was half a meter away, I thought,‘ Oh yeah, that’s on, ’and for some reason it went to the left,” said Scheffler, who tied 2nd at the end with Zalatoris.

For Fitzpatrick, this success joined his US Amateur title in 2013, as well as The Country Club. He became the second golfer to win the US Open and Amateur on the same course. Jack Nicklaus, in 1961 and 1972, at Pebble Beach, the first. Nicklaus called Fitzpatrick to congratulate him on his success.

However, the Englishman spoke of a different call from ‘Golden Bear’: the one he received after his victory in the members tournament played at The Bear’s Club in Florida. “He said to me,‘ Finally, congratulations on winning in America, ’” Fitzpatrick explained. This is a call that can be interpreted as a satire.

Previously, Fitzpatrick’s seven professional achievements were on the European Tour, one of which coincided with Spain, at the Estrella Damm Andalucía Masters in Valderrama. This time, Nicklaus’s call is no joke. Finally, Fitzpatrick had official success in the United States, and most importantly.