Underdog Matt Fitzpatrick makes sick birdie to put himself in great position for 1st major at U.S. Open

Just marvel at that soft touch onto the green.

With the U.S. Open being one of the PGA Tour’s major tournaments, each of the world’s top golfers assuredly wants the trophy. You know some of the usual crew: Rory McIlroy. Adam Scott. Uh … Phil Mickelson (?).

Thursday, a guy outside the familiar pros put himself in a stellar position through the weekend: Matt Fitzpatrick.

Fitzpatrick, 27, has never won a major tournament. His best finish in one was a fifth-place result at the 2022 PGA Championship. Entering the 2022 U.S. Open, he had +3000 odds with Tipico Sportsbook to win the whole dance.

Given that Fitzpatrick previously won the 2013 U.S. Amateur at the same course in Brookline, Massachusetts, we probably should’ve seen his initial surge forward coming.

Let’s fast forward to the 12th hole, with Fitzpatrick nursing a -2 score. He was just on the edge of the green and needed a fantastic shot for a birdie.

He did precisely that:

Wow. Look at that smooth touch.

Thanks to the birdie, Fitzpatrick would pull himself into a five-way tie for third place (-2). That’s a great spot to be in as the rest of the weekend unfolds.

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