Matt Fitzpatrick holds his nerve to see off American challenge to win US Open – latest reaction

• US Open 2022 full leaderboard and latest scores

• Englishman wins first major thanks to two-under 68 to finish on six-under

• Topsy-turvy final round had everything as Fitzpatrick holds off challenge of Zalatoris and Scheffler

• He becomes only the second man to win the US Amateur and US Open on the same course after Jack Nicklaus

Jack Nicklaus, Francis Ouimet move over and say hello to Matt Fitzpatrick. In winning the US Open here on Sunday night in dramatic and thrilling fashion, the 27-year-old Englishman established himself as a legend of the revered Brookline Country Club and a sole companion to the Golden Bear.

Certainly, this remarkable venue has not witnessed a major win so special since 1913 when Ouimet, a 20-year-old amateur who lived across the street, denied Harold Vardon and Ted Ray in a tournament christened “The Greatest Game Ever Played”.

This was one of the great US Open final rounds as Fitzpatrick held off world No 1 Scottie Scheffler and another American in Will Zalatoris to join Nicklaus as the only two players to win the US Amateur and the US Open at the same course.

Fitzpatrick referred to Brookline as “my special place” anyway, but after this it now must hold an exclusive position in his heart. His first major and one of the more memorable ever captured by an English golfer.

When he became the first Briton in more than a century to win the US Amateur in 2013, he had his young brother on his bag. Nine years later and Alex was in the crowd, jumping up and down along with mother Susan and father Russell, as Billy Foster did the honours on the bag.

Do not underestimate the influence of Foster, the 59-year-old also from Yorkshire. This was his first major and if Fitzpatrick needs any more pride , he need only look down at the players with whom Foster did not win a major…. Seve Ballesteros, Sergio Garcia, Darren Clarke, Lee Westwood and Thomas Bjorn. His final round 68 for a six-under total could keep any company, as he beat Scheffler (67) and Zalatoris (69) a a single stroke.

Story continues

What a last day this was. It swung this way and that, leaving The Country Club thrilled but utterly breathless. The fluctuations in the last twoball alone were difficult to fathom. Fitzpatrick’s ball-striking on the opening nine was clearly the most clinical in the field and if his putting was at its usual level, he would have enjoyed a comfortable advantage.

When he drove the green on the 301-yard fifth for a two-putt birdie it took him to six-under and, at that stage, four ahead of Zalatoris. It looked as if it was Fitzpatrick versus Scheffler  But over the next six holes there was a six-shot swing between the pair, as Fitzpatrick, courtesy of two three putts, most disappointingly from 15 feet on the 108-yard 11th, fell back to four under and Zalatoris used his long wand to claw his way to six-under.

But just as it looked as though the momentum belonged to Zalatoris, he bogeyed the 12th and then on the 13th, Fitzpatrick hit back in an extraordinary moment. From 50 feet,  across the green, Fitzpatrick holed, screaming and punching the air as his ball dropped.

If possible, that putt was lent more significance because of Zalatoris’s situation on that par four – he was 12 feet away for three. Surely, he could not convert after Fitzpatrick’s  bombshell. Zalatoris holed and they were tied on five-under.

On the hole ahead, Scheffler cannot have failed to hear the commotion and he duly yanked his six-footer for birdie on the par five. He remained one behind, but did not concede any more ground when the pacesetters both could only manage pars on the “gettable” par five.

By now, the action was excruciating, with each shot apparently taking on seismic significance. On the 15th, Fitzpatrick caught a break when finding the tramped-down rough. He was 10 yards further right than Zalatoris, but the latter’s ball was buried. How Fitzpatrick capitalised. From 225 yards, he hit to 18 feet and holed for a birdie. With Zalatoris taking a bogey, Fitzpatrick was two clear. Yet only briefly. Scheffler birdied the 17th.

Fitzpatrick had the opportunity to go two clear on the 17th when missing a birdie effort from 12 feet and on the 18th there was extreme worry when he drove into a bunker. But, as he secured his first PGA Tour win and his eighth title in all, he would not be denied playing yet another vintage shot over the imposing bunker at the froint of the green.

After making his par, he had to endure watching Zalatoris try a 15-footer for the play-off. The 25-year-old missed for his third runner-up major finish in just over a year. The Californian was left in agony as the Fitzpatrick family danced and hugged under the grandstand.

In fifth came Rory Mcilroy. It was a familar feeling for the Northern Irishman.  Let us simply remark that this was not the first time he has come with a rattling Sunday charge to run into the places when the leaders were too far ahead.

At April’s Masters, McIlroy shot a 64 to finish second behind Scheffler and at last months’ US PGA Championship he fired a 68 to get back to two-under and leap from 17th into eighth.

He began here three behind and conjured three birdies in the opening six holes, with his putting remaining red hot. The problem was there were three bogeys in his first seven holes. So erratic. And when he bogeyed the 11th, he was six behind. Time for the McIlroy march through the field, birdieing the 14th and 15th.

It is as if when the burden of winning has gone, he is freed up. But then, when there is a sniff, even the faintest sniff, he tightens up again. On the 17th, he gave himself a 10-footer to move within two of the lead, alongside Hideki Matsuyama (the Japanese who shot a 65) on three-under. But it dribbled by and the par on the last left him on two-under, in a tie with Collin Morikawa (66) and attempting to figure out how on earth he shot a 68 containing four bogeys.

Another top 10, but this was another anti-climax for this supreme talent who has gone eight years since winning the most recent of his four majors. But he was one of the first to raise the cap to his Ryder Cup teammate. Matt Fitzpatrick, the UK’s first male major winner in six years.

Matt Fitzpatrick wins the US Open – as it happened

12:07 AM

It’s Billy Foster’s first major

He’s been the caddie for some greats, here’s what he had to say…

Foster told Sky Sports…

11:53 PM

Matt Fitzpatrick likes Brookline

He’s won the US Amateur and now the US Open there.

11:50 PM

The moment Fitzpatrick won

11:50 PM

In the history books

11:48 PM

FITZPATRICK IS US OPEN CHAMPION!!

Fitzpatrick is the first to putt and his 14-footer stays out left. He taps in for par and ends on six-under…Zalatoris got a good read from the Fitzpatrick BUT his putt jsut misses and the Englishman has done it!! What a nerveless, composed final round! So well deserved, such a talent and you think this could be the first of several majors.

11:43 PM

Two great approaches at 18

Fitzpatrick has 159 to the hole and he plays delightful approach from the bunker – wow! That’s the shot of a major champion…big shot at a huge moment.

Zalatoris responds with a wedge from 129…he too finds the green,he’ll have a 12 footer for birdie, Fitzy will have a 14-footer.

11:40 PM

Rahm’s defence is over

His final round never got going and he ends on one-over after carding a four-over 74.

11:39 PM

Advantage Zalatoris on 18

Zalatoris is aggressive using driver off the tee at 18 but fortune favours the brave and all that , and he carries the bunker.

Fitzpatrick takes three-wood and is in the bunker right up against an island of rough – he’ll find it tough to find the green in regulation now…

Most definitely squeaky bum time…

11:35 PM

Scheffler ends on five-under

His birdie attempt is just long and he’s the new clubhouse leader…

Both Zalatoris and Fitzpatrick par the 17th…

One to go…

Fitzpatrick -6
Zalatoris -5
Scheffler -5

11:30 PM

Fitzpatrick takes an iron off the tee at 17

…finds the fairway and then the green with his approach. That puts the pressure on Zalatoris, but the American fires his approach over the flag and spins it back under the hole. Both will have a decent chance of birdie.

11:25 PM

Scheffler on the green in two at the last

He’ll have a 20 footer for birdie to get to six-under.

11:24 PM

Zalatoris isn’t finished yet

The American is back to five-under after making that six-foot birdie putt. Fitzy two putts and stays at six-under.

Two holes to go…

Fitzpatrick -6
Zalatoris -5
Scheffler -5

11:23 PM

Rory ends on two-under

He’s putted well but made too many mistakes on that front nine and will finish in the top five.

11:21 PM

Fitzpatrick and Zalatoris both on the green

…at the par-three 16th. But Zalatoris is closer and will have a six-footer for birdie.

11:20 PM

Scheffler back to five-under

A birdie at 17 moves him to sole second – this tournament still has some distance to run…

11:19 PM

Two-shot swing!

11:17 PM

Fitzpatrick has a two-shot lead!!

Zalatoris is unable to get up and down and is back to four-under. The Englishman has an 18-footer for birdie and a two-shot swing and as soon as it leaves the putter the ball was never gong anywhere else other than the bottom of the cup!

Three holes to go.

Fitzpatrick -6
Zalatoris -4
Scheffler -4

11:10 PM

Fitzpatrick has 224 yards to reach the green at the 15th

And he hits a great shot – that was world class. It was possibly a four-iron that carried the bunker and releases on the green. He’ll have an 18-footer for birdie.

Zalatoris, meanwhile, finds the greenside bunker with his approach. Advantage to the Englishman.

11:07 PM

Rory’s race is nearly run

He has a decent look for birdie at the 17th but misses the 11-foot putt. He’s on two-under with just the 18 to come.

11:04 PM

Scheffler has a birdie putt at the par-three 16th

For the co-lead with Fitzpatrick and Zalatoris – his attempt has the pace but not the line and he walks off the green with a par and stays at four-under with two holes to go.

11:01 PM

Good break for Fitzpatrick at the 15th

His drive is far right but end up where the spectators have trampled on the rough and so should have a good lie. Zalatoris has no such luck and his tee shot finds the rough.

10:57 PM

Big par putt for Rory at 16

Which he makes from eight foot – he found the bunker at the par three and did well to get up and down – with two holes left, however, he’s got too much to do. He stays at two-under.

10:51 PM

Pars for the co-leaders at the 14th

The par-five monster at 625 yards is a three-shot hole and Fitzpatrick and Zalatoris both two putt having found the green in regulation to stay at five-under. Fitzpatrick’s par-putt was a nerveless eight-footer that bodes well for the remaining four holes.

10:46 PM

Rory’s charge for the line!

The world No.3 has back-to-back birdies on 14 and 15 and is at two-under. Is it a case of too little, too late once again for McIlroy?

10:37 PM

Check out this brilliant Fitzpatrick putt

It’s given the Yorkshireman a share of the lead.

10:36 PM

Scheffler has a chance to get to five-under

…at the 14th. But his birdie putt from all of six feet just misses on the high side. He stays at four-under.

10:34 PM

What a putt from Fitzpatrick!!!

It was a long, downhill breaker from all of 16 yards but it’s right in the centre of the hole on the 13th and he’s back to five-under and a tie for the lead. Zalatoris, however, has a 10-footer for par and the American nails it – that was a huge putt. This is great stuff from this last pair.

10:31 PM

Denny McCarthy is quietly going about his business

The American is at two-under for his tournament with three holes left to play.

10:29 PM

Birdie for Rory

It’s come at the 14th and is his first birdie since the sixth. He’s back to one-under. You think he’ll need at least three more of those to have a chance…can he do it?

10:20 PM

Matsuyama is new clubhouse leader

He’s three-under thanks to a final round 65 – will it be enough?

10:19 PM

Zalatoris back to five under

He cannot hole that long putt, but he gave it a good chance. He’s still sole leader as Fitzpatrick misses his birdie putt, and he stays at four-under.

10:15 PM

Door open for Fitzpatrick at the 12th

Zalatoris chips out from the rough at the par-four while Fitzpatrick finds the dancefloor – he’ll have an uphill 20-foot putt for a birdie.

The American just short of the green in three – he has a long putt to save par and stay at six-under.

10:11 PM

Fitzpatrick could do a with a birdie at the 12th

…after that bogey at the 11th. He’s looked composed all day and there’s no need to panic just yet.

10:09 PM

Zalatoris in trouble at the 12th

No sooner has he taken the lead than the American finds the deep rough off the tee at the par-four.

10:06 PM

Rory’s only hit four of nine fairways

He’s at level par through 13 but he needs birdies to have a hope.

10:04 PM

Zalatoris is new sole leader

He’s four-under for his past six holes and is the form man out there at the moment. He’s just birdied the par-three 11th and moves to six-under.

Fitzpatrick misses his par putt – he three putts from 12 or so feet –  on the same hole and drops to four-under,  two shots back.

10:01 PM

Collin Morikawa is clubhouse leader

At two-under after a 66. You think it won’t be enough but then again the back nine of a US Open can spring a few surprises…

09:57 PM

Fitzpatrick back to five-under

He hit his approach to the par-four 10th into the greenside bunker and was unable to get up and down for the par.

He now shares the lead with playing partner Zalatoris. Nervy back nine on its way?

09:49 PM

Matsuyama is five-under for the day

He’s blemish free through 16 holes after a birdie at the par-three. He’s at three-under and looking good to post the clubhouse lead.

09:48 PM

Lipped out putt for Scheffler

At the 11th and he registers back-to-back bogeys to move him to four-under.

Rahm, meanwhile, bogeys the 10th and is back to level par.

It’s looking goof for Fitzpatrick…

09:40 PM

Fitzpatrick stays at six-under

His birdie put at the ninth just misses on the high side but two-under for the opening nine is fine going. Zalatoris meanwhile holes a 20-foot breaking putt to move to five-under and share second with Scheffler.

Nine holes to go…

09:36 PM

Bogey for Rory

Having found the right rough the world No.3 is unable to get up and down and he’s back to level par for the tournament.

09:36 PM

Error from Scheffler

…whose approach to the 10th finds the back bunker. He does well to get his third shot to within 15 feet – the green sloping from back to front – and but he misses the putt and is back to five-under.

Fitzy now has the sole lead!

Denny McCarthy meanwhile is now at two-under thanks to a birdie at the 12th.

09:27 PM

Rory’s wedge lets him down at the 11th

He’s found the rough on the short par-three and it’s hard to see him winning this now, five shots back but the fizz seems to have gone today…famous last words…

09:26 PM

Fitzpatrick back to share of the lead!

The Englishman just misses the eagle putt at the eighth but taps in for birdie and he’s back to six-under. Playing partner Zalatoris pars and stays at four-under.

09:23 PM

Fitzpatrick on the green at the par-five eighth in two!

He follows up a booming drive with a fantastic approach from 267 yards that leaves him with a right-left putt from 25 feet.

09:20 PM

Scheffler has a look at birdie at the ninth

…but his putt misses high and he stays at six-under, four-under for the front nine, he’s still the man to catch.

09:08 PM

Matsuyama making a move

He’s gone three, three at 12 and 13 and is at two-under.

09:08 PM

Zalatoris has found form!

He hits his approach to the seventh to an inch, he proceeds to tap it in to get back to four-under.

09:05 PM

Rahm holes a six-footer for par at the seventh

He’s one-over for his round and at two-under, four back of Scheffler.

09:02 PM

Fitzpatrick drops a shot

The Yorkshireman is back to five-under after a bogey at par-three sixth. His tee shot was to the back of the green but he three putts and loses a share of he lead.

Meanwhile, Zalatoris is back to three-under – he’s had a shaky start but he birdies same hole.

08:57 PM

Too many mistakes from McIlroy

Who stays at one-under but that par at the par-five eighth will feel like a bogey. He finds the rough with his drive and second and he cannot get back to two-under as a result.

08:50 PM

Matsuyma with another birdie

It’s his third of the day and has come at the 12th – can he post a clubhouse lead to make those still out on the course think? He’s at one-under at the moment, as is Morikawa whose through 13 holes.

08:49 PM

There’s now daylight at the top of the leaderboard

Fitzy and Scheffler are four clear of their rivals now.

08:47 PM

Fitzpatrick is a little aggressive

With an eagle putt at the par-four fifth – that leaves him with a six-footer for the birdie, can he make it to move to six-under and join Scheffler at the top of the leaderboard? YES HE CAN! He looks calm and composed out there at the moment.

08:44 PM

He can  join elite company

08:43 PM

Rahm drops a shot

The bogey’s come at the short par-four fifth – like McIlroy he found the left rough and wasn’t able to register a four. He’s now back to two-under.

08:38 PM

Rory’s topsy-turvy round

His tee shot at the seventh found the left rough, his approach also found the long grass and his chip over the bunker left him with a 20 footer for par, which he misses. He’s back to one-under – he’s only registered one par so far.

08:37 PM

Scheffler rolls in another birdie

The latest coming at the par-three sixth – that’s two twos from the world No.1  so far. As it stands it looks as though it will take one heck of a performance to stop the American from winning his second major. He’s sole leader at six-under.

08:32 PM

Joel Dahmen moves to two-under

Thanks to a birdie at the seventh – can someone like him move under the radar to win today?

08:27 PM

Rory plays for position at the short par-four seventh

By taking an iron but his tee shot finds the left rough.

08:25 PM

Rory’s back to two-under par

Never a dull moment with McIlroy – he’s had three-birdies and two bogeys so far. At the par-three sixth, his tee shot is below the hole and leaves him with an eight-foot putt that he nails. It’s always exciting with Rory!

08:22 PM

Fitzpatrick joins Scheffler at five-under

That’s thanks to a birdie at the third – he had a blind approach but he played it perfectly and then proceeded to holed the eight-foot putt.

08:19 PM

Your sole leader

08:18 PM

No doubting who the man to watch is at the moment

It’s the Masters champion Scheffler – he’s just birdied the fourth and that’s his third of the round. He’s sole leader at five-under. He hit his approach to 24 feet and the flat stick is working well as the ball never left the middle of the hole.

08:15 PM

Bogey for Keegan Bradley

To go with his opening two bogeys – he’s back to one-over and five back from the lead.

08:12 PM

Bogey for Rory

His tee shot at the fifth find the long grass and his resulting ship finds the false front, the ball rolling off the green. His putt from off the green goes right and he’ll have a tricky putt to save par, he misses to the left and it’s a bogey…he’s back to one-under.

Zalatoris’ shaky start continues as he finds the deep rough with his drive at the third.

08:06 PM

Fitzty (that’s Fitzpatrick if you’re wondering…)

Has a long putt that flirts with the hole at the second but it stays just to the right – he pars the par-three and stays at four-under.

Zalatoris has had a shaky start and bogeys the same hole – he’s back to three-under.

08:04 PM

Brilliant Rory response

He’s putting well (bar that last hole…) there was lots of break in his birdie putt from all of 25 feet but he finds the centre of the cup and is back to two-under!

08:00 PM

Par-par start for Rahm

He had a six-footer for the three at the second and he found the centre of the hole. He stays at three-under.

Scheffler’s birdie run comes to an end at the third – but it’s a par and the world No.1 stays at four-under.

Fitzpatrick’s swing is looking very smooth at the moment. Both he and Zalatoris find the green at the par-three second.

07:56 PM

Brilliant four for Zalatoris at the first

His second was poor but his third shot – a chip to within a foot – was excellent and he stays at four-under, as does playing partner Matt Fitzpatrick.

07:54 PM

Bogey for Rory

After that great drive at the third, the Northern Irishman is back to one-under – his approach was 18 yards from the hole and he three putts to hand back the shot he picked up at the first.

07:52 PM

Fitzpatrick is pin-high

With his approach at the first – he’ll have a 15 foot putt for birdie. Zalatoris, however, is in the thick rough with his second.

07:49 PM

Here’s Scheffler’s great start

07:48 PM

Rahm opens up with a par at the first

The Spaniard is wearing the same colours as he wore when winning last year (I think…).

07:47 PM

Ominous for his rivals

07:46 PM

Fitzpatrick’s final round is under way

And the Englishman’s drive is straight down the middle of the fairway – confident start.

Zalatoris’ opening tee shot finds the first cut on the right.

07:45 PM

Back-to-back birdies for Scheffler!

The world No.1 is off to a flyer! He’s rolled in his eight-foot putt for a birdie at the par-three second and now shares the lead with Fitzpatrick and Zalatoris on four-under.

07:39 PM

Rory finds the fairway at the third

It’s a great drive and he’s in position A1 at the 500-yard par four.

07:38 PM

Matsuyama is two-under for the round

And back to level par after seven holes.

07:36 PM

Birdie for Scheffler

After that great approach the American holes the birdie putt – just a five footer and he moves to within one of the leader at three-under.

Meanwhile Rahm gets his final round under way, finding the fairway.

07:35 PM

Another good putt for Rory

It’s not a birdie, rather a tap-in par at the second but if he can get the flat-stick working then he stands a more-than-good chance of winning today. McIlroy is at two-under.

Sam Burns also pars the par-three having been plugged in the bunker – that was a great up and down. He stays at one-under.

07:31 PM

Scheffler hits a beauty at the first

He was a bit unlucky with his drive finding a divot – but that doesn’t bother the world No.1 who stiffs his approach pin-high – he’ll have a five-footer for birdie.

07:27 PM

Rory finds the green at the par-three second

He’ll have a 30-foot putt for a two.

Sam Burns opened up with a par and stays at one-under.

07:26 PM

Birdie joy for Rory

Here’s how it got to two-under.

07:25 PM

Scottie Scheffler’s final round is under way

And the Masters champion’s drive finds the fairway.

07:23 PM

Opening birdie for Rory!

Just the start he wanted – he rolling in the breaking 20-footer to making a great opening statement – he’s back to two-under, two back from the leaders.

07:19 PM

Good approach to the first from Rory

The Northern Irishman has 133 yards and finds the heart of the green – he’ll have a 22 foot putt for an opening birdie.

Burns has 180-yard to the green and finds the dance floor, 20 feet from the pin.

07:16 PM

Eight years since he won a major

And Rory McIlroy’s bid to end the drought is up an running – the world No.3’s drive finds the first cut on the right. Can he get off to a good start?

Playing partner Sam Burns’ drive is in the rough to the left to the fairway bunkers.

07:12 PM

A reminder of the leaders’ tee times

7.12 – Rory McIlroy,  Sam Burns

7.23 – Scottie Scheffler, Adam Hadwin

7.34 – Keegan Bradley, Jon Rahm

7.45 – Matt Fitzpatrick , Will Zalatoris

Rory’s about to go.

07:07 PM

Callum Tarren’s tournament is done

And the Englishman closes with a one-under 69 to finish on six-over. The unheralded golfer started off brilliantly carding opening two rounds of 67 and 72 before a third round of 78 dashed any feint hopes of unexpected glory.

07:01 PM

Breaking the duck

06:56 PM

On Sky Sports Laura Davies has just suggested…

…That Matt Fitzpatrick can win if he shoots one or two-under today.

06:55 PM

I do like the 11th hole

It’s a short par-three – just 108 yards today – in an era of monster par-threes.

Here’s how to play it by Xander Schauffele, who’s at three-over.

06:36 PM

Half awful, half brilliant from Matsuyama

06:25 PM

The leaders have arrived at Brookline

Matt Fitzpatrick is in the last group, with Will Zalatoris, and goes off at 7.45.

06:25 PM

Paul McGinley

Says rain overnight has taken the ‘bite’ out of some of the difficulty in the firm conditions that affected scores yesterday. Should be better scoring today but not by a lot as the wind still forecast at about 15 mph.

06:13 PM

Rahm chasing history

06:11 PM

Justin Thomas got a bad break yesterday

The likeable American was denied relief after his drive on the fourth came to rest a few inches to the right of a drain.

Thomas – whose mood had not been helped when the starter announced him on the first tee as “Justin Thomson”  called an official for a ruling, he was asked if it “interferes with his stance or his swing” and after replying ‘no’, he was obliged to play it as it lies. He dropped a shot and ended the day on three-over.

The world No. 5 is level par for his final round through four holes having bogeyed the first and birdied the fourth.

He came from seven shots back to win the US PGA last month – can history repeat itself? I’d suggest not at the moment…

06:01 PM

What will the winning score be?

Hard to say, really, but Cantlay and Guido Migliozzi are showing the leaders that there is a decent score out there today. The Italian was four-under for his front nine, he’s dropped a shot since, but it at three-over for the tournament.

05:58 PM

Patrick Cantlay off to a good start

The American is two-under for his first two holes and at one-over. Can he continue the fine start and post the clubhouse lead?

05:56 PM

Three of these golfers are in the top seven

05:38 PM

Grayson Murray is running out of clubs

With which to vent his frustration.

05:34 PM

Can Rory win his second US Open?

05:23 PM

Tee times of the leaders

6.34 – Matthew NeSmith, Séamus Power

6.50 – Gary Woodland, Denny McCarthy

7.01 – Nick Hardy, Joel Dahmen

7.12 – Rory McIlroy,  Sam Burns

7.23 – Scottie Scheffler, Adam Hadwin

7.34 – Keegan Bradley, Jon Rahm

7.45 – Matt Fitzpatrick , Will Zalatoris

05:18 PM

It’s fair to say it’s not going well for Grayson Murray

The American threw his putter into the deep rough after registering a triple bogey. He’s nine-over for his round through 12 holes…

01:29 PM

Hello and welcome

To our live coverage of the final round of this year’s US Open, which looks all set for a thrilling conclusion – with  England’s Matt Fitzpatrick within touching distance of the biggest win of his career to date.

The Sheffield-born golfer is chasing his first major and, level with Will Zalatoris at the top of the leaderboard on four under par, he is tantalisingly close to that milestone. There are plenty of big names lined up to capitalise if either he or Zalatoris slip up, however, with Jon Rahm one shot shy of the leaders and Keegan Bradley, Scottie Scheffler and Adam Hadwin all two strokes behind.

Rory McIlroy is still in contention, though he is three shots off the pace alongside Joel Dahmen and Sam Burns. He is still hopeful of winning his fifth major, and his first since the US PGA Championship in 2014.

“I’m maybe not in as good a position as I wanted to be, but I’m still right in the tournament.,” said McIlroy after the third round on Saturday, where he battled to a 73 despite struggling for extended periods.

“It’s been a long time, eight years since I’ve been able to win one of these things. I still remember the feeling and I want that f eeling again… I’m one great round of golf away from doing it and that’s all I have to focus on.”

Fitzpatrick, meanwhile, hopes that his previous success at Brookline – where he won the US Amateur title back in 2013  – will give him an advantage over his rivals as they scrap it out on day four. “I certainly think it gives me an edge over the others,” he said. “I genuinely do believe that.

“It’s a real positive moment in my career. It kind of kickstarted me. To come back here and play so well again, it  kind of just gives me growing confidence round by round.”

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