The Valspar Championship culminated in a thrilling showdown between two former Northwestern golfers, Matt Fitzpatrick and David Lipsky. Fitzpatrick, a three-time PGA Tour champion and the 2022 U.S. Open winner, briefly attended Northwestern in 2013 before turning professional. Lipsky, an All-American during his time at NU, is yet to secure a victory on the PGA Tour.
The final round saw both players tied for the lead as they approached the 18th tee. Fitzpatrick seized the moment, sinking a 13-foot birdie putt on the par-4 18th to claim a one-stroke advantage. Lipsky, despite an initial drive into the right rough, executed a commendable recovery. However, his subsequent 32-foot birdie putt, which would have forced a playoff, agonizingly missed the hole. Reflecting on his near miss, Lipsky stated, “I was right between clubs on my second shot. I almost pulled off that shot, and I almost made the putt.”
Fitzpatrick’s winning score of 11-under-par 273 offered a measure of redemption after a bogey on the final hole cost him The Players Championship title just last week. He contrasted the two experiences, saying, “It was frustrating… but today I played fantastic on every shot on 17 and 18, and that made this one so special.”
The Valspar Championship marked the conclusion of the PGA Tour’s four-week Florida Swing. The tour will now head to Texas for the next two weeks, leading up to the year’s first major championship, the Masters, held in Georgia.
Beyond Fitzpatrick and Lipsky, several other contenders vied for the title. South Korea’s Sungjae Im held an early lead but saw his performance unravel in the later stages. Brandt Snedeker, slated to captain the U.S. team in the upcoming President’s Cup, also mounted a strong challenge deep into the back nine before fading, finishing with a 76 and tying for 18th. Jordan Smith secured third place, two strokes behind Fitzpatrick, while Xander Schauffele’s impressive round of 65 earned him a share of fourth place alongside Im and Marco Penge.
