Matt Fitzpatrick, former Northwestern golfer, captures US Open

Matt Fitzpatrick now has a major championship under his belt!

On Sunday, Fitzpatrick outlasted Scottie Scheffler and Will Zalatoris atop the leaderboard by a stroke to win the US Open at -6. Fitzpatrick finished his final round with a 68.

The finish was not without a bit of drama. Entering the 18th hole and clinging to a one-stroke lead, Fitzpatrick faced a tough shot out of a fairway bunker.

He drilled what he called “one of the best shots I’ve hit of all-time” to get on the green safely. It was undoubtedly an insanely clutch moment for Fitzpatrick.

Absolute nails. #USOpen pic.twitter.com/2V218Ahvnj

— U.S. Open (USGA) (@usopengolf) June 20, 2022

Fitzpatrick’s ties to Northwestern came when he initially enrolled to play golf with the Wildcats. That would not last long as he soon left to focus on his amateur golfing career.

Along the way, Fitzpatrick tied legendary Jack Nicklaus in one stat with his US Open win and drew the attention of head football coach Pat Fitzgerald.

Matt Fitzpatrick wins the U.S. Open at The Country Club nine years after winning the U.S. Amateur… at The Country Club.

He joins Jack Nicklaus as the only players to win the U.S. Amateur and U.S. Open at the same venue. Jack did it at Pebble Beach in 1961 and 1972. pic.twitter.com/FVO0M1bByC

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) June 19, 2022

Congratulations to #USOpen CHAMPION @MattFitz94!! #ProCats pic.twitter.com/JV4DCmfkwz

— Pat Fitzgerald (@coachfitz51) June 19, 2022

Paul Harvey

Paul is a lifelong fan and student of all things college football. He has been covering college football since 2017 and the B1G since 2018.