Golf Apr 20, 2026

Valspar Championship: England's Matt Fitzpatrick bounces back from The Players near miss to claim first PGA Tour title since 2023

👤
By Admin
Sports Journalist
Valspar Championship: England's Matt Fitzpatrick bounces back from The Players near miss to claim first PGA Tour title since 2023

Matt Fitzpatrick bounced back from his final-hole disappointment at last week's Players Championship to birdie the last and win the Valspar Championship by a stroke for his first PGA Tour victory in almost three years.

The Englishman displayed superb consistency as he shot 68-69 over the weekend with just six birdies and 30 pars, but the most important of the shots he picked up was at the Copperhead Course's tough 18th hole.

His late birdie edged him ahead of America's David Lipsky by one shot, with the contest appearing set for a play-off. England's Jordan Smith was a further shot back, with Xander Schauffele finishing on eight under after a magnificent 65 on Sunday.

Tied with Lipsky on 10 under going into the final hole, Fitzpatrick hit his approach to just inside 14 feet and holed for his first birdie in 12 attempts on that hole.

It left the American, in the group behind, needing to match that to force a play-off but his 32-foot attempt came up just short.

For Fitzpatrick it was some consolation having finished a stroke short last week after bogeying the final hole at Sawgrass and being pipped by Cameron Young, with this win the ideal confidence boost ahead of next month's Masters.

Speaking afterwards, Fitzpatrick said: "I felt like last week I played so well right until the end. To lose the way I did, it's always disappointing.

"It always feels like it takes a little out of you when you spend four days of your life battling to try and get that top spot and you lose it right at the death.

"That is always difficult to take so this week was important to get back on the horse, try and push myself to continue playing well.

"It was frustrating [at The Players]. It was a weird feeling because I didn't really feel like I did much wrong coming down the stretch. I hit a lot of really good shots on that back nine.

"I played way better on the back nine last Sunday than I did on the back nine this Sunday, for example.

"Obviously there's more frustration when you don't feel like you've done a lot wrong, you don't feel like you've lost it, you feel like someone's come and taken it away from you

"I made sure that this week I didn't coast. I knew that I was playing well and it was like 'let's just keep pushing and give ourselves the best chance we can'."

Fellow Englishman Smith's five-under 66 got him to nine under and into third, while compatriot Marco Penge was also in contention until he bogeyed the 16th, finishing in a tie for fourth on eight under after a 68.

Tags:

golf news

Share this article

Related Posts

RBC Heritage: Matt Fitzpatrick leads by one shot after day two thanks to bogey-free round at Hilton Head

RBC Heritage: Matt Fitzpatrick leads by one shot after day two thanks to bogey-free round at Hilton Head

Matt Fitzpatrick ended day two of the RBC Heritage with a one-shot lead after carding an eight-under-par 63.The Englishman made eight birdies, includi...

LIV Golf: Jon Rahm insists he's not 'too worried' about future of the breakaway competition

LIV Golf: Jon Rahm insists he's not 'too worried' about future of the breakaway competition

Jon Rahm, one of the biggest stars of LIV Golf, says he's not "too worried" about the future of the breakaway league despite speculation about its fin...

LIV Golf League: What is their long-term future in men's golf and how will it impact the PGA Tour and DP World Tour?

LIV Golf League: What is their long-term future in men's golf and how will it impact the PGA Tour and DP World Tour?

From what we have heard this past week, it sounds like the writing could be on the wall for the LIV Golf League.It was always going to be a real stret...

LIV Golf League: Bryson DeChambeau withdraws from LIV Golf Mexico City ahead of final round due to wrist injury

LIV Golf League: Bryson DeChambeau withdraws from LIV Golf Mexico City ahead of final round due to wrist injury

Bryson DeChambeau has withdrawn from LIV Golf Mexico City, ahead of the final round, due to a wrist injury.DeChambeau - a two-time winner on LIV Golf...

RBC Heritage: Matt Fitzpatrick pips Scottie Scheffler in play-off to claim second PGA Tour victory of the season

RBC Heritage: Matt Fitzpatrick pips Scottie Scheffler in play-off to claim second PGA Tour victory of the season

Matt Fitzpatrick secured a second PGA Tour win of the season after overcoming a final-round wobble to claim play-off victory over world No 1 Scottie S...

Jon Rahm takes six-shot victory in Mexico as LIV Golf insists it will continue amid speculation about financial future

Jon Rahm takes six-shot victory in Mexico as LIV Golf insists it will continue amid speculation about financial future

Jon Rahm capped off a chaotic week on LIV Golf when he closed with a seven-under 64 on Sunday for a six-shot victory in LIV Golf Mexico City, his seco...