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Fitzpatrick takes one-shot lead at RBC Heritage
Matt Fitzpatrick, the 2023 U.S. Open champion, surged to the top of the leaderboard at the RBC Heritage in South Carolina after a bogey-free 63 in sweltering, wind-swept conditions on Friday.
Lucky break fuels Fitzpatrick's charge
The Englishman's round included a stroke of fortune at the par-three 14th hole. After pulling his tee shot toward the trees, his ball struck a cart path, bounced back onto the green, and narrowly avoided rolling into the water thanks to a strategically placed sprinkler head.
Fitzpatrick seized the moment, sinking a 30-foot putt for an unlikely birdie. He added two more birdies in his final three holes to finish at 14 under par, one shot clear of Norway's Viktor Hovland.
"Yeah, it was lucky, there's no two ways about it. Sometimes you need that in a week, so it's nice to get, and then even nicer to take advantage of it."
Matt Fitzpatrick
Hovland stays hot on Fitzpatrick's heels
Hovland, the world number two, remains Fitzpatrick's closest pursuer after a dramatic birdie at the 17th hole kept him within striking distance. He sits at 13 under par after the second round.
"I wouldn't say I striped it today, but at least I kind of kept the ball in front of me, and that's what you're trying to do on this golf course."
Viktor Hovland
Scheffler struggles to convert opportunities
World number one Scottie Scheffler, paired with Fitzpatrick, carded a disciplined 67 but failed to capitalize on multiple birdie chances. Despite hitting every fairway, he trails by seven shots at seven under par.
Mixed fortunes for other contenders
Jordan Spieth endured a frustrating day, recording three double bogeys in a round of 72, leaving him at one under par. Meanwhile, Akshay Bhatia mounted a comeback with an 11-birdie 63, climbing to six under par.
The leaderboard also features Austria's Sepp Straka, Sweden's Ludvig Åberg, and Americans Patrick Cantlay and Collin Morikawa, all within four shots of Fitzpatrick's lead.
Current top standings
- -14: Matt Fitzpatrick (England)
- -13: Viktor Hovland (Norway)
- -10: Harris English (USA)
- -9: Sepp Straka (Austria), Ludvig Åberg (Sweden), Patrick Cantlay (USA)
