Hilton Head Island, South Carolina – A week after finishing in a tie for tenth at the Masters, Matt Fitzpatrick beat out the defending champ Jordan Spieth in a playoff for his first victory at the 2023 RBC Heritage.  The annual tour stop is now one of the elevated PGA Tour events in an effort to combat the LIV Golf Tour.

This weeks tournament on the coast of South Carolina is only a short drive from Augusta National which makes it easy for most of the players to commit to playing, especially the big names.  Of course, all except one of biggest names in golf – Rory McIlroy.  Rory backed out of the RBC due to the physically demanding schedule that the new events created to start the year.  Rory knowingly forfeited about $3 million in PIP money for not playing but the overload took much of a toll on the world number three.  Nonetheless, the leaderboard was stacked with plenty of star power.

2022 US Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick ended regulation in a tie with Jordan Spieth at 17 under par.  Matt’s low round of 63 on Saturday vaulted him to the top of the leaderboard and in a position to win since his victory just outside Boston last year.  On Sunday, Matt carded four birdies to just one bogey in route to a 68.

Jordan Spieth was also extremely consistent as he defended his crown of the RBC Heritage carding a 68, 67, and a pair 66s on the weekend to get to 17 under par.  This left Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele just outside the playoff at 16 under par and 15 under par, respectively.

Off to the first playoff hole they went.  It started on hole 18.  Both players had birdie putts but Matt’s was significantly further.  Jordan made a valiant effort only to see it lip out.  The second playoff hole went back to hole 17, a par 3.  Both players made par.  The playoff went back to hole 18 where Matt stuffed his approach to a foot of the pin while Jordan left himself a 30 footer that he only missed by a few inches.  Matt tapped in his birdie for the win.b After the extended playoff, Matt donned the plaid jacket and lifted the trophy as the 2023 RBC Heritage champion.

Next week, the PGA Tour heads south for the Mexico Open.

Matthew Fitzpatrick’s What’s In The Bag:

Driver: Titleist TSi3 9 degrees, (Mitsubishi Tensei AV Raw Orange 65 TX)

3-wood: Ping G425 Max 14.5 degrees (Mitsubishi Tensei AV Raw Orange 75 Tx)

7-wood: Ping G410 20.5 degrees (Mitsubishi Tensei CK Pro Orange 80 TX)

Irons: Ping i210 (4, 5), Ping S55 (6-W)

Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM9 52-12F 56-08M & WedgeWorks Proto 60-T (True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S300)

Putter: Bettinardi Tour DASS BB1 Proto

Ball: Titleist Pro V1x

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Zack Buechner

Zack has been a contributor at Plugged In Golf since 2018. Zack has worked in healthcare for over 12 years and currently works from home in health care technology. His previous work experience includes stints in the NFL, NCAA D-1 athletics, and PGA Tour Champions. Zack lives in southern Connecticut with his wife Ashley and their 2 children (Beau (5) & Lunden (1)) and their dog. Although he only started playing golf after college, Zack is passionate for the game and the journey to getting better while regularly participating in state and national amateur events all across the northeast.

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