Golf Apr 24, 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

Scottie Scheffler beats Rory McIlroy in unique play-off to win frantic Golf Channel Games

Scottie Scheffler beats Rory McIlroy in unique play-off to win frantic Golf Channel Games

Scottie Scheffler eclipsed Rory McIlroy in a play-off to win the inaugural Golf Channel Games at Trump National Golf Club Jupiter in Florida.The uniqu...

AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open: Jayden Schaper wins second DP World Tour tournament in a row via play-off eagle

AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open: Jayden Schaper wins second DP World Tour tournament in a row via play-off eagle

Jayden Schaper secured his second DP World Tour title in as many weeks after a hole-out eagle at the second play-off hole saw him win the AfrAsia Bank...

Sky Sports remains exclusive home of The Masters Tournament with more live coverage than ever before

Sky Sports remains exclusive home of The Masters Tournament with more live coverage than ever before

Your Site and Augusta National Golf Club have announced a new multi-year extension to their long-standing partnership, keeping Your Site and NOW as th...

Justin Rose Telegraph Junior Golf Championship: Results, highlights and when to watch highlights on Sky Sports Golf

Justin Rose Telegraph Junior Golf Championship: Results, highlights and when to watch highlights on Sky Sports Golf

The potential future stars of professional golf battled it out at the Justin Rose Telegraph Junior Golf Championship, with extended highlights this mo...

Rory McIlroy wins BBC Sports Personality of the Year after career Grand Slam with Ellie Kildunne in second

Rory McIlroy wins BBC Sports Personality of the Year after career Grand Slam with Ellie Kildunne in second

Rory McIlroy won BBC Sports Personality of the Year after an extraordinary year that saw him finally win the Masters - completing the career Grand Sla...

Sky Sports extends PGA Tour partnership to 2029 in four-year golf broadcast rights deal in UK and Ireland

Sky Sports extends PGA Tour partnership to 2029 in four-year golf broadcast rights deal in UK and Ireland

Sky and the PGA Tour have agreed a four-year extension to their long-standing partnership in the UK and Ireland through to the end of 2029.This follow...