BROOKLINE, Mass. – Englishman Matt Fitzpatrick’s first career major title corresponded with a boost to a career-high world ranking.
The Englishman’s victory at the US golf Open bumped him up eight spots to No. 10 in the official World Golf Ranking (WGR).
The 27-year-old posted a 6-under-par 274 at The Country Club in Brookline, Mass., which was the same course where he won the 2013 US Amateur. Fitzpatrick beat Will Zalatoris and world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler by one shot.
The breakthrough came after Fitzpatrick tied for fifth at last month’s PGA Championship and had six other top-10 finishes on the PGA Tour this season. He began the calendar year No. 24 in the world.
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland moved up a place to displace Jon Rahm of Spain at the No. 2 spot behind Scheffler.
Though he remains without a major title since 2014, McIlroy had another strong showing at the US Open and used a final-round 69 to tie for fifth at 2 under.
Rahm is now No. 3 after shooting a final-round 74 and dropped to a tie for 12th at 1 over.
It’s McIlroy’s first week ranked in the top two since July 2020, which was the same month his most recent stint as world No. 1 ended. He slipped as far as No. 16 last year.
Collin Morikawa tied with McIlroy at 2 under for the week and managed to jump three spots, from No. 7 in the world to No. 4. Justin Thomas remained fifth.
In finishing second at a major for the third time in his young career, Zalatoris also moved up two spots in the OWGR standings and achieved a career high of No. 12. Zalatoris is still in search of his first PGA Tour victory.
Two other beneficiaries of the increased OWGR points on offer at the US Open were Adam Hadwin of Canada and Denny McCarthy, who was part of a tie for seventh at 1 under.
Hadwin jumped from No. 105 to No. 81. McCarthy soared from No. 121 in the world to No. 93.
Fitzpatrick sent his drive far right but made an incredible recovery shot, landing on the green and making the ensuing 18-foot putt for birdie.
Zalatoris, meanwhile, found a greenside bunker and ended up bogeying down to 4 under.
Zalatoris bounced back with a birdie at the par-3 16th but couldn’t complete the rally. He finished second for the second straight major after losing a playoff to Justin Thomas at last month’s PGA Championship.
Scheffler charged ahead early with four birdies in his first six holes to take the lead at 6 under, where Fitzpatrick eventually matched him.
But for the second straight day, the Masters champion had trouble after the turn. He bogeyed No. 10 and three-putted for another bogey at No. 11.
Collin Morikawa and Rory McIlroy finished in a tie for fifth at 2-under 278. Denny McCarthy, Adam Hadwin and Keegan Bradley tied for seventh at 1-under 279.
Fitzpatrick, 27, hit 17 greens in regulation. He becomes the first Englishman to win the US Open since Justin Rose at Merion in 2013, the same year Fitzpatrick won the US Amateur at The Country Club.
He also joins Jack Nicklaus as the only player to win both the US Open and Amateur on the same course. Nicklaus won at Pebble Beach in 1961 and 1972.
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