Nice Guys Don’t Always Finish Last

Just before the turn of the century, Green Day released a song, “Nice Guys Finish Last”, and they were/are not entirely wrong. Those who are nice often lose out to the ruthless people willing to bend the rules to win, and five weeks ago, we saw that come true in the golf world.

Five weeks ago today, Matt Fitzpatrick lost THE PLAYERS Championship – the PGA TOUR’s signature event – by one stroke to Cam Young after leading with two holes to play. He didn’t really lose the tournament; Young won it. And after Young finished, Fitzpatrick, who had every right to be pissed off about the loss, walked to the back of the green and embraced Young’s family, congratulating them on the victory. It was a small moment, but it showed that Fitzpatrick is a truly good person. So at that moment, what Green Day sang about rang true.

Fitzpatrick could’ve wallowed in the pain from the loss of such an important tournament, but instead decided to put that narrative to bed, going on a tear. One week later, he won the Valspar Championship at Innisbrook’s Copperhead Course – one of the toughest stops on the TOUR’s schedule. 10 days later, he announced he and his wife are expecting their first child later this year. He finished T-18 at the Masters, and then won, again, this week at the RBC Heritage at Harbour Town in Hilton Head, South Carolina – a place he and his family visited when he was a child.

Aside from the personal meaning of winning at Harbour Town – his second win at the course – he also survived a charge from World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler. 
But it was not as easy as it looked: yes, Fitzpatrick played from the front of the pack, starting early in round two and led by three going into today, but it got tight. Walking off the 14th green, Fitzpatrick led Scheffler by three; he didn’t even have to keep pace with Scottie to win. But Scottie did Scottie things, making birdies on 15 and 16, and Fitzpatrick stepped to the tee at 18 up one. After failing to scramble for his par, the two went back to 18 for the playoff – Fitzpatrick’s second at the tournament in four years. 

And like his last one, Fitzpatrick put his second shot close to the hole, making birdie, and taking the title, proving that sometimes the Nice Guys (Don’t Always) Finish Last.