Alex Fitzpatrick came agonisingly close to making golfing history at Quail Hollow on Sunday, but a devastating double bogey on the 17th hole saw his dreams slip away.
The 27-year-old Englishman had carried a one-shot advantage into the final round of the Truist Championship, looking poised to become part of the first pair of brothers to win on the US circuit in the same year alongside Matt.
Instead, Norwegian Kristoffer Reitan claimed the title on 15-under par, finishing two clear of Rickie Fowler and Nicolai Hojgaard.
Fitzpatrick ended three shots adrift in solo fourth place after signing for a 73.
Alex Fitzpatrick had led the Truist Championship on Saturday before faltering on the final day
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His final round was a tale of two halves, and then some.
Fitzpatrick’s challenge looked to be unravelling early on, stumbling to three-over through just three holes after finding a divot with his drive on the second and something going wrong in his backswing on the third.
“In my head I’m thinking ‘I could shoot 81 here’,” he admitted afterwards.
But he showed tremendous fight around the turn, rattling off three birdies in four holes from the 10th to surge back into a share of the lead.
Then came the par-three 17th, the second-toughest hole all week, where a flubbed chip from the right side of the green resulted in that crushing double bogey.
Despite the disappointment, Fitzpatrick refused to let it overshadow what’s been an extraordinary run of form.
Alex Fitzpatrick still scooped £700,000 after the tournament
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“It’s still very surreal, I don’t think I’ve woken up which is a good thing,” he said. “Obviously I feel like it’s crazy to be disappointed but somehow I’m a little disappointed.”
He walked away with more than £700,000 for his efforts and plenty of pride in how he’d competed.
“I’m disappointed not to have won, but I’m also really proud of myself for how I battled out there,” Fitzpatrick reflected. “I have a lot more inner self-belief now.”
Fitzpatrick now turns his attention to Thursday’s PGA Championship at Aronimink, where he’ll make his debut in that particular major.
It’s been a whirlwind few weeks for the younger Fitzpatrick brother, who has banked more than £2m in just three weeks following his Hero Indian Open triumph and that memorable Zurich Classic victory alongside Matt.
Having his sibling around has clearly made a difference.
“He’s done everything that I want to do in the game, whether that’s Ryder Cup and winning majors,” Alex said. “That has given me a really good sense of what it takes.”
