The Valspar Championship culminated in a compelling final-round battle, featuring two golfers with ties to Northwestern University, though their connections varied.
Three-time PGA Tour winner Matt Fitzpatrick, 31, had a brief stint at Northwestern in 2013, playing just one quarter. During his time, he contributed to the Wildcats’ success in two out of five tournaments before winning the U.S. Amateur that same year and turning professional in 2014. A highlight of his career is his 2022 U.S. Open victory.
In contrast, David Lipsky, 37, boasts a more extensive collegiate record at Northwestern, including two tournament wins and an All-American nod in 2011. Despite his collegiate success, a PGA Tour victory has eluded him, though he came remarkably close on the Copperhead Course this past Sunday.
Entering the 18th tee, both players were tied for the lead. Fitzpatrick, playing ahead, executed two strong shots on the par-4, sinking a 13-foot birdie putt to claim a one-stroke advantage. Lipsky’s drive landed in the right rough, but he made a courageous recovery, reaching the back fringe of the green with his second shot. This left him with a challenging 32-foot birdie putt to force a playoff, which ultimately did not fall.
Reflecting on the decisive moment, Lipsky commented, “I was torn between clubs for my second shot. I nearly executed that shot perfectly, and I almost sank the putt.” He added a touch of humor, noting that “almost” doesn’t quite seal the deal in golf.
Fitzpatrick’s winning total of 11-under-par 273 secured his victory over Lipsky. This win offered the English golfer a measure of redemption, following a disappointing bogey on the final hole of The Players Championship last week, which cost him that prestigious title.
The previous week’s loss at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra had been difficult for Fitzpatrick to overcome. “It was frustrating, a weird feeling,” he recalled, referring to where Cameron Young claimed the title. He added, “I didn’t feel I did much of anything wrong on the back nine, but today I played fantastically on every shot on 17 and 18, and that made this win so special.”
The Valspar Championship marked the conclusion of the PGA Tour’s four-week Florida Swing. Attention now turns to Texas for the next two tournaments, leading up to the year’s first major championship, The Masters, in Georgia.
While Fitzpatrick and Lipsky ultimately contended for the title, several other golfers were in contention. South Korea’s Sungjae Im, for instance, had been positioned for a rare wire-to-wire victory until his performance faltered early in the final round.
Brandt Snedeker, set to captain the U.S. President’s Cup team in September, played alongside Im in the final pairing. Unlike Im, Snedeker, at 45 and following four consecutive missed cuts, remained a strong contender deep into the back nine. With seven holes remaining, he was tied for the lead with Jordan Smith (England), Marco Penge, Fitzpatrick, and Lipsky. However, Snedeker ultimately shot a 76, finishing tied for 18th. Jordan Smith secured third place, two strokes behind Fitzpatrick, while Xander Schauffele’s impressive 65 earned him a share of fourth place alongside Im and Penge.