Matt Fitzpatrick leads RBC Heritage after 'lucky' birdie - via cart path, sprinkler head and 30-foot putt

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Cox/Getty Images Share articleMatt Fitzpatrick — the 2022 U.S. Open winner — hit one of the luckiest golf shots of his career as he took a second-round lead at the RBC Heritage in South Carolina. The 31-year-old leads the way after the second round on 14 under, one clear of Viktor Hovland, with Harris English three further shots back. The moment of the day, however, was Fitzpatrick’s fun and games on the par-three 14th. He hit his iron hard to the left, with the ball destined for the trees. However, the ball ricocheted back towards the green by the edge of a cart path. When it then appeared to be heading for water, the ball slowed and hit a sprinkler head, which stopped it from making a splash. That set up a 30-foot birdie chance, and Fitzpatrick, who won the event at Harbour Town Golf Links, South Carolina, in 2023 when he beat Jordan Spieth in a play-off, made the most of his luck to sink the putt. Matt Fitzpatrick with a wild sequence on 14 that leads to birdie and a three-shot lead @RBC_Heritage. pic.twitter.com/7JE4Ywbomz — PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) April 17, 2026 The European Ryder Cup player birdied two of the next three to complete a bogey-free round. “Yeah, it was lucky, there’s no two ways about it,” Fitzpatrick said of the shot in quotes carried by golfchannel.com. “Sometimes you need that in a week, so it’s nice to get, and then even nicer to take advantage of it.” Overnight leader Ludvig Aberg dropped to joint-fourth position following three bogeys on the back nine. World No 1 Scottie Scheffler carded a 67 and is seven shots off the pace. Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms Colin Millar is a Senior Editor for The Athletic. Prior to joining The Athletic, Colin was European Football writer at Mirror Football. From Belfast, he is the author of The Frying Pan of Spain: Sevilla vs Real Betis, Spain’s Hottest Football Rivalry, and he can be found on Twitter/X: @Millar_Colin Follow Colin on Twitter @Millar_Colin