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A16 sports
Monday 20 June 2022

Fitzpatrick a winner again at Brookline as U.S. Open champion

By DOUG FERGUSON rick missed a fairway at the
AP Golf Writer wrong time, pulling it left
BROOKLINE, Mass. (AP) — into a bunker with a steep
Matt Fitzpatrick of England patch of rough right in front
is a champion again at The of him.
Country Club, this time with It looked like a playoff was
the grandest of trophies in eminent — the previous
golf. three U.S. Opens at Brook-
A U.S. Amateur champi- line were all decided by
on in 2013. The U.S. Open a playoff — and then Fitz-
champion Sunday. patrick fearless hit a fade
In a three-way battle at with a 9-iron that carried
Brookline that came down the gaping bunker in front
to the wire, Fitzpatrick of the green and settled 18
seized control with a great feet away.
break and an even better He narrowly missed and
shot on the 15th hole for a could only watch as Zala-
two-shot swing. He was just toris missed his last chance.
as clutch from a fairway "Matt's shot on 18 is going to
bunker on the 18th that set be shown probably for the
up par for a 2-under 68. rest of U.S. Open history,"
Victory was not secure until Zalatoris said. "I walked by
Will Zalatoris, who showed it, and I thought that going
amazing fight back from Matthew Fitzpatrick, of England, reacts after a putt on the 13th hole during the final round of the for it was going to be ballsy.
every mistake, dropped to U.S. Open golf tournament at The Country Club, Sunday, June 19, 2022, in Brookline, Mass. But the fact that he pulled
Associated Press
his knees when his 15-foot it off and even had a birdie
birdie putt on the 18th just look was just incredible.
slid by the left side of the Fitzpatrick is the second "He gave me a bit of abuse only a few yards and was "So hat's off to him. He
cup. Zalatoris, who closed man to win a U.S. Ama- at the start of the year. He buried in deep grass. played great all week ob-
with a 69, was a runner-up teur and U.S. Open on the said, 'Finally. Congratu- He hit 5-iron from 220 yards viously and gave a solid
in the second straight ma- same course, joining Nick- lations for winning in the to 18 feet below the hole. round today."
jor. laus, who turned the trick States,'" Fitzpatrick said. Zalatoris went into the front Fitzpatrick finished at 6-un-
Masters champion Scottie at Pebble Beach. Juli Ink- And then slightly lifting the bunker, blasted out to 25 der 134.
Scheffler never recovered ster won the U.S. Women's trophy, Fitzpatrick sent a fun feet and made bogey. The 27-year-old Fitzpatrick,
from back-to-back bogeys Amateur and U.S. Women's message to Nicklaus: "Jack, Fitzpatrick took a two-shot the first Englishman since
to start the back nine that Open at Prairie Dunes. I won a second time." lead when his birdie putt Justin Rose in 2013 to win
cost him the lead. He had Fitzpatrick, who briefly It took a good break, a sig- went into the cup with such the U.S. Open, felt his time
a 25-foot birdie chance on played at Northwestern be- nature shot and some guts perfect pace it didn't even was coming. He is meticu-
the 18th that just missed fore turning pro, won for the at the end. touch the pin he leaves in lous in charting his shots
and left him one behind eighth time worldwide, and Fitzpatrick and Zalatoris the cup. and keeps a record of all
with a 67. this was his first in America were tied going to the 15th Zalatoris again bounced of them to identify what
Along with the $3.15 million — at least a tournament when the Englishman hit his back, taking on a tough pin needs work. And he em-
in prize money, Fitzpatrick everyone knows about. He tee shot so far right that it at the par-3 16th to 7 feet phasized speed in his swing
had that gold Jack Nick- won the member-member went into the gallery and for birdie to cut the lead over the last two years,
laus medal draped around at The Bear's Club in Florida found a decent lie on grass to one shot. Both missed giving him the length and
his neck, which was only fit- at the start of the year, the that was dead and tram- 12-foot birdie chances on the belief to compete with
ting. course Nicklaus built. pled. Zalatoris missed by the 17th, and then Fitzpat- anyone.q

Berrettini retains Queen’s title, looking

good for Wimbledon

in the final on Sunday. It But I guess that's normal." Krajinovic. The last of those
backed up his title triumph Krajinovic was a surprise fi- came on match point, af-
in Stuttgart last week, which nalist in west London, hav- ter which he smashed a
also was on grass. ing never won a match on ball high into the sky and
Wimbledon starts June 27 grass at ATP level before jumped the advertising
and Berrettini is heading to this week, and the 30-year- hoardings to celebrate
the All England Club hav- old Serb usually tries to skip with his team and then his
ing won 20 of his last 21 grass-court events if he father on Father's Day.
matches on grass — his only can. Berrettini joined Lleyton
loss coming against Novak "I hated it," Krajinovic said Hewitt, Andy Roddick,
Djokovic in four sets in last of grass. "But I feel now I Andy Murray, Marin Cilic
Italy's Matteo Berrettini celebrates with the trophy after beating year's Wimbledon final. want to play on it more and and Feliciano Lopez in be-
Serbia's Filip Krajinovic to win the final tennis match at the
Queen's Club Championships in London, Sunday, June 19, 2022. "I couldn't ask for a better more." ing a multiple title winner
Associated Press start to the grass season," His serve wasn't big enough at Queen's since the turn
Berrettini said. "I am feeling to threaten the tall and im- of the century. He has won
LONDON (AP) — Matteo The second-seeded Ital- really good — obviously a posing Berrettini, who only every match since return-
Berrettini looks in prime ian retained his grass-court Slam is different, best-of- gave up two break points ing to action in Stuttgart af-
shape for another deep run Queen's Club title by beat- five sets. And a lot of pres- and sent down 14 aces — ter three months out with a
at Wimbledon. ing Filip Krajinovic 7-5, 6-4 sure is going to be on me. more than double that of hand injury.q