US Open winner in golf Matthew Fitzpatrick: "A shot that will be shown to the end of history"

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Matthew Fitzpatrick and caddy Billy Foster would love to embrace the world

Photo: Charlie Riedel/AP

You become a champion by being at your best when it really matters.

On the very last hole of this US Open, Matthew Fitzpatrick became a champion.

The Brit was in the lead, his first major victory in golf was within reach when he failed to approach the 18th green.

The ball landed in the fairway bunker, which usually makes a precise attack on the small greens much more difficult.

But Fitzpatrick then managed a shot "that will probably be shown to the end of US Open history," as his main competitor Will Zalatoris then unenviously acknowledged.

Fitzpatrick brought the ball out of the sand to within a few yards of the flag: "One of the best shots I've ever hit."

Was Zalatoris discouraged by this?

At least he put the crucial putt delicately past the hole that would have saved him in a jump-off.

The American then fell to his knees and clasped his hands over his head.

Again, after a strong performance, it wasn't quite enough for the first major title.

Second at last year's Masters, second at this year's PGA Championship, second now at the US Open.

That can become a curse.

Already triumphed as an amateur at Brookline

That's how Matthew Fitzpatrick triumphed.

It's a special story of victory for this 27-year-old Briton, who has picked up some success in Europe and Asia but has never won on the quintessential PGA Tour - let alone any of the four major tournaments.

And that despite the fact that he has consistently been among the best in the world for years, but he has never had a better result than fifth place in this year's PGA Championship at a major.

A special story for him, because nine years ago he was at the top of the US Open on exactly this course in Brookline near Boston - but still among the amateurs.

In 2013 he won with his brother Alex at his side as caddy.

Now he also won the pros and Alex, who is now a golf pro himself, was one of the first to wish well and hugged his brother.

In any case, Fitzpatrick wanted to hug the whole world afterwards, the competition was heartily hugged in turn, Fitzpatrick is one of those who have a good reputation in the industry.

“The feeling is out of this world.

I could retire tomorrow a happier person.«

The US champion among amateurs and professionals in the same place – the great Jack Nicklaus recently managed to do that.

What footsteps.

A special story but also for his current caddy Billy Foster.

Foster has been a loyal supporter of golfing celebrities for well over 30 years.

He's worked for Severiano Ballesteros, for Darren Clarke, for Lee Westwood.

It took until now that he too was allowed to celebrate his first major title.

He has finally gotten rid of the reputation of the "best caddie without a major win".

Sport in focus again

Thanks to Fitzpatrick and Foster, sport took center stage again during the four days at the US Open.

All the discussions about the division of the golf world in the wake of the multi-million dollar Saudi tournament series LIV, the debates about the renegades who have followed the lure of Saudi money, even at the price of being kicked out of the PGA Tour.

All the bad blood that caused this, dividing the golf scene into supposed good and evil, was dormant for the moment.

If only for a short time: The discussion will continue with each edition of the Saudi series.

The world of golf is never the same.

The fact that only four of 13 participants in the Saudi series who started at Brookline made the cut was received with a certain satisfaction by the traditionalists.

Among others, Phil Mickelson, the most prominent of those who participate in LIV, was already over after two of the four rounds.

At the Fitzpatricks, too, the Saudi issue threatened to tear a rift through the family.

His brother Alex, his amateur caddy, had received a lucrative offer from the Saudis.

He thought about it for a long time, but then rejected it.

Matthew Fitzpatrick said it would have been "dilemma hell if he'd been there and I wasn't."

The family was spared this »hell«.

Instead, she's now in golf heaven.

"I hope I can reassure him once again that he made the right decision," Matthew said of his brother last month.

He couldn't have shown it better than now.