To say a sport is ‘a game of inches’ might be one of the most overused clichés in the industry but for Jordan Spieth that much was true after the former world number one missed a $5.4m putt at RBC Heritage.
Spieth, who had the chance to become the tournament’s fourth ever back-to-back winner, missed his chance twice against Matt Fitzpatrick in a nail-biting finish.
On the 18th, Spieth had a 12-foot birdie putt look like it was going to land him a $5.4m ($3.6m US) pay day as he raised his putter in the air.
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The putter then hit the ground when the ball grazed the edge of the hole and spun out, much to Spieth’s dismay.
The three-time major winner had another chance on the second playoff hole, with a 10-foot birdie attempt missing by the closest of margins once again.
Fitzpatrick then closed proceedings at the third playoff hole, hitting the front of the green from 187 yards out, leaving himself with a tap-in for birdie for victory.
Fitzpatrick trailed Spieth by two with five holes to play until birdies on the 15th and 16th holes. He closed with a 3-under 68. Spieth had to make a 6-foot par putt on the 18th for a 66 to force a playoff at 17-under 267.
The RBC Heritage ended in a playoff for the second straight time. Spieth beat Patrick Cantlay in a playoff last year. Cantlay had a 68 on Sunday and finished one shot out of the playoff.
The victory for Fitzpatrick was his first since the US Open last June.
While Spieth would’ve been ultimately disappointed with his inability to close out the tournament, he still settled for second prize-money of $3.3m at Harbour Town.
Fitzpatrick’s win broke an almost 40-year record after Nick Faldo was the last Englishman to win the tournament in 1984.
The rich winner was a in a reflective mood after claiming the prize.
“It’s hard to describe. I said to (caddie) Billy (Foster), it doesn’t get better than this -walking down here, just looking around. It’s a course I dreamed of playing when I was young,” he said.
“I managed to play a couple of times with my dad and yes, this one means more than anything.”
— with AP
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