Fitzpatrick’s 63 Secures Heritage Lead

Following a challenging second round at the RBC Heritage in South Carolina, English golfer Matt Fitzpatrick surged to a one-stroke advantage with a flawless 63, free of bogeys. The result positions him as the leader heading into the final stages of the tournament. His performance was bolstered by a fortunate play at the par-three 14th hole, where a misfired tee shot led to an unexpected opportunity.

Fitzpatrick’s ball struck a cart path after landing near the trees, bouncing back onto the green. A sprinkler head intervened just in time, stopping the ball from slipping into the water. This stroke of luck allowed him to sink a 30-foot putt for a birdie that proved pivotal.

“Yeah, it was lucky, there’s no two ways about it,” Fitzpatrick remarked. “Sometimes you need that in a week, so it’s nice to get, and then even nicer to take advantage of it.”

In the aftermath, Fitzpatrick added two more birdies in his final three holes, solidifying his position at the top. Norway’s Viktor Hovland remains his nearest rival, maintaining a strong presence after a remarkable birdie at the 17th hole.

“I wouldn’t say I striped it today, but at least I kind of kept the ball in front of me, and that’s what you’re trying to do on this golf course,” Hovland explained.

Notable Performances

World number one Scottie Scheffler delivered a steady 67, though he struggled to capitalize on multiple birdie chances. Meanwhile, Jordan Spieth faced difficulties in the arduous conditions, recording three double bogeys during a 72. Akshay Bhatia made a strong comeback with an impressive 63, including 11 birdies, to climb to -6.

Full Leaderboard

14 under par: M Fitzpatrick (Eng) -13: V Hovland (Nor) -10: H English (US) -9: S Straka (Aut), L Aberg (Swe), P Cantlay (US) -8: R MacIntyre (Sco), R Fowler (US) -7: S Scheffler (US), C Morikawa (US) -5: X Schauffele (US) -3: S Lowry (Ire) -1: J Spieth (US)