Will Zalatoris after third 2d-location finish at important - 'This one hurts' - ESPN

BROOKLINE, Mass. -- Will Zalatoris came up short once more, and this time, he idea he had it.

After lacking a 14-foot birdie putt on the 18th gap that could have put him in a playoff with winner Matt Fitzpatrick, Zalatoris could not support however sigh as he changed into given the silver medal for runner-up on the U.S. Open on Sunday. After speaking to the media while screens confirmed Fitzpatrick hoisting the trophy, Zalatoris walked off with a pressured smile. He needed to exit the stage to let the champion come through.

"This one, in certain, hurts pretty tough," talked about Zalatoris, who now has six proper-10 finishes in nine principal begins, including three second-area finishes. "i am three shots faraway from virtually being a -- having an opportunity of being a three-time principal champion. A jump right here or there."

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    The 25-12 months-historical went into Sunday's action without an enormous win or a PGA Tour victory, yet with a lot of self assurance. He had noted Saturday that his recent 2nd-vicinity conclude in a playoff to Justin Thomas at this year's PGA Championship had given him the perception he can be some of the most fulfilling players on the planet. but perception couldn't push his putt a number of inches nearer to the hole.

    "With about six feet to head, i thought I had it," Zalatoris said of his putt. "It stings, certainly. To have three runner-americathus far in my career in majors."

    Zalatoris got here into Sunday tied for the lead with Fitzpatrick. Zalatoris struggled early, making two bogeys on the primary 5 holes before his ever-elusive putter caught fireplace. He birdied 4 of the subsequent six holes and, at one aspect, held a 2-shot lead over Fitzpatrick.

    "I battled like loopy," Zalatoris referred to, calling his driving "atrocious" on the week and including that his hip become bothering him. The 2021 Masters runner-up's commonplace complications have include his putter, but as he referred to with a smile on Sunday, his placing changed into simply first-class.

    "i am bound all the Instagram morons are going to say it has whatever thing to do with my left wrist flexion coming down," Zalatoris stated of the putt on 18. "I promise you, it be received nothing to do with it."

    Zalatoris' two costly errors got here on the again nine. On the twelfth hole, he missed the green and had to punch out, which resulted in a 2-putt for bogey. On the 15th, he ignored the golf green again. Fitzpatrick did too, but he ignored it to this point right that he had a much better lie than Zalatoris, who turned into in the rough. Fitzpatrick birdied. Zalatoris bogeyed. The lead changed into then 2 in Fitzpatrick's choose.

    On the par-three sixteenth, Zalatoris made a birdie to sit 1 returned. however when Fitzpatrick saved his errant drive that found the bunker with a perfect iron shot into the 18th eco-friendly, the force changed into again on Zalatoris, who afterward referred to as Fitzpatrick's method shot "ballsy" and "1 in 20."

    "I knew full well Will was going to hit it shut," Fitzpatrick noted. "he's one of the crucial top-rated method gamers on tour."

    Zalatoris hit it just internal 15 ft. Fitzpatrick 2-putted for par, so Zalatoris knew what he needed to do. As he struck the ball and watched it trickle simply previous the hole devoid of shedding, it become Zalatoris who dropped to his knees in anguish. The champion changed into determined.

    "I've already been asked, how worried were you on the putt on 18?" Zalatoris observed. "it's like I've received nothing to lose. It both goes in or it does not."

    Even after a troublesome loss, Zalatoris projected self belief, announcing he has the recipe to win. With less than a month except the next fundamental -- The Open at St. Andrews -- Zalatoris talked about he's joyful he'll get to are trying once again soon.

    "i am no longer chuffed with completing 2d," he talked about. "i am certainly trying to make it. The consolation degree is there, primarily now that i do know i will be able to do that. I just ought to maintain ready my turn."

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