Fitzpatrick goes from disappointment to winning at Valspar Championship

PALM HARBOR, Fla. (AP) — Matt Fitzpatrick took longer than usual to get over his loss last week at The Players Championship, mainly because he played so well and did so little wrong until Cameron Young won on the difference of one tee shot at final hole.

“To lose it right at the death is always difficult to take,” Fitzpatrick said.

Seven days later, he found the best antidote. Fitzpatrick was locked in a duel with David Lipsky in the final hour at the Valspar Championship and this time delivered the goods, a birdie putt from just inside 15 feet on the final hole for a 3-under 68 and a one-shot victory.

“I knew that I was playing well,” Fitzpatrick said. “And it was like, ‘Let’s just keep pushing and give ourselves the best chance we can.'”

That's all he could asked on a tough Copperhead course at Innisbrook that doomed 54-hole leader Sungjae Im and crushed the hopes of 45-year-old Presidents Cup captain Brandt Snedeker. They were among five players who had a share of the lead at some point, all jostling for position.

Fitzpatrick missed four birdie chances from inside 10 feet in a seven-hole stretch around the turn, his body language indicating he was letting it slip away. His big surprise was seeing a leaderboard at the turn that showed him tied — he figured he would be a few shots behind.

And then he holed a 30-foot birdie putt on the par-3 15th to take the lead, only for Lipsky — playing in the group behind him — to make a 7-foot birdie on the 14th to catch him.

Fitzpatrick, who won the DP World Tour Championship to close out the European tour season last November, had the final say. His birdie putt was pure and the 2022 U.S. Open champion was emphatic thrusting his fist down to celebrate.

Lipsky's birdie chance from just outside 30 feet on the 18th just missed to the left. He closed with a 70 to match his best finish on tour.

The victory for Fitzpatrick, his third on the PGA Tour to go along with nine European tour titles, came one week after he had a one-shot lead going to the 17th hole at the TPC Sawgrass only for Young to make birdie and win with a par on the closing hole when Fitzpatrick's tee shot ran through the fairway and forced him to lay up. He missed a 7-foot par putt to force a playoff.

But there was no letdown at Innisbrook.

“The big thing was I felt I was playing well,” Fitzpatrick said. “I wanted to continue that and felt like I had the confidence in myself to do so. To do that for four rounds was special this week.”

Fitzpatrick finished at 11-under 273 on a Copperhead course that was a stern test, with the putting surfaces already having a yellow sheen during the opening round and the course getting firmer and faster each day under an abundance of sun.

Lipsky missed a birdie chance from 15 feet at the par-3 17th — on about the same line as Fitzpatrick missed moments earlier — and his tee shot went into a quirky lie in the rough on the 18th. Adding to the difficulty was hearing the big roar ahead when Fitzpatrick made birdie.

“I was right in between clubs,” Lipsky said. “I took a more aggressive play. Almost pulled it off. It was close. Hats off to Matt.”

It still was a big week for Lipsky, who began the year with conditional status after finishing at No. 107. He moves to No. 33 in the FedEx Cup and is likely to get him into the next signature event a week after the Masters.

Jordan Smith of England finished third.

Im began the final round with a three-shot lead, and that was gone quickly due to a putter that went cold on him. The South Korean, who had led since the opening round, shot 40 on the front nine and didn't make his first birdie until the 11th hole. He closed with a 74 and tied for fourth.

Snedeker, the 45-year-old who last won in August 2018, birdied the opening hole and didn't make another birdie. He was still tied for the lead until three-putting for double bogey on the 12th hole, the start of a rough back nine that sent him to a 40 and a 76 to tie for 17th.

“Stood on the 10th tee tied for the lead, which is all you can do,” Snedeker said. “My swing left me on the back nine. I really struggled. ... All those putts I’ve been making all week dried up today.”

Marco Penge, among five players tied for the lead at some point in the final round, fell back with bogeys on Nos. 12 and 16. He birdied the 18th for a 71 to join Im and Xander Schauffele (65) in a tie for fourth.

Schauffele finished his round and was ready to drive home to south Florida when he looked at the leaderboard and realized he probably needed to stick around given how firm it was. He finally left two hours later when Smith posted at 9-under 275.

AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf

Matt Fitzpatrick celebrates his birdie putt on the 18th hole during the final round of the Valspar Championship golf tournament Sunday, March 22, 2026, in Palm Harbor, Fla. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken)

Matt Fitzpatrick celebrates his birdie putt on the 18th hole during the final round of the Valspar Championship golf tournament Sunday, March 22, 2026, in Palm Harbor, Fla. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken)

Matt Fitzpatrick celebrates after winning the Valspar Championship golf tournament Sunday, March 22, 2026, in Palm Harbor, Fla. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken)

David Lipsky watches his tee shot of the first hole during the final round of the Valspar Championship golf tournament Sunday, March 22, 2026, in Palm Harbor, Fla. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken)

Matthieu Pavon tees off on the first hole during the final round of the Valspar Championship golf tournament Sunday, March 22, 2026, in Palm Harbor, Fla. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken)

Matt Fitzpatrick tees off on the first hole during the final round of the Valspar Championship golf tournament Sunday, March 22, 2026, in Palm Harbor, Fla. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken)

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — The cheers were back for Vinícius Júnior at the Santiago Bernabeu after the Real Madrid forward scored twice in a 3-2 win over Atletico Madrid on Sunday, keeping his team in the thick of the La Liga title race.

Vinícius had to endure jeers from Madrid's fans earlier this season following the firing of coach Xabi Alonso and some embarrassing losses.

But as the results have improved, so has Vinícius’ reception from Madrid’s supporters. Madrid has reached a high mark under new coach Álvaro Arbeloa with the win over Atletico — after a humiliating 5-2 loss in September — and the elimination of Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City in the Champions League.

And Vinícíus has rightfully gotten some credit for the team’s recent improvement in form as he had helped to lead Madrid along with midfielder Federico Valverde, with stars Kylian Mbappé and Jude Bellingham out injured.

Vinícius converted a penalty in the 52nd minute to cancel out Ademola Lookman’s first-half opener for Atletico before the speedy Madrid forward grabbed the winner with a curling strike in the 72nd.

“Another great game by Vini, it was an example of his character, his talent. It was a great goal that gave us a win in a difficult moment. I am lucky to have him on my team,” Arbeloa said. “We remain in the league fight. Mission accomplished.”

Surprisingly, the goals were Vinícius’ first against Atletico in La Liga after 12 scoreless derbies for the player. He had scored once before against Atletico in the Copa del Rey.

“I have worked hard all season for games like this,” Vinícius said. “I don’t know why, but when this time of the season arrives the goals and assists just flow.”

Madrid had to hold on for the last 12 minutes when Valverde, who had scored to make it 2-1 before Nahuel Molina leveled for Atletico, got a direct red card for a tough-looking challenge on Alex Baena, who in 2023 accused Valverde of assaulting him after a game.

The sending off almost cost Madrid when Julian Álvarez got free and hit the post with 10 minutes to play.

But Arbeloa’s team saw out the final minutes to ensure second-place Madrid stayed within four points of Barcelona with nine games remaining.

Lookman made it five goals since joining Atletico from Atalanta in the winter transfer window when Giuliano Simeone used an exquisite touch of the side of his boot to leave the Nigeria striker free to score in the 33rd.

Madrid had to wait until after the break to quickly turn things around. Vinícius equalized from the spot after Brahim Díaz was fouled in the box by David Hancko. Valverde then won the ball from José Giménez and made it 2-1 in the 55th, extending his league scoring run to three straight games in addition to his recent hat trick against City.

Atletico had looked finished but Molina came off the bench to lash in a long strike in the 66th before Vinícius restored Madrid's advantage for good. He came in from the left flank and curled home the decider as Spanish tennis great Rafael Nadal cheered from the VIP section of the Santiago Bernabeu.

“We could have done more in attack, and hopefully that can serve us for important games ahead,” coach Diego Simeone said, referring to Atletico’s upcoming Champions League quarterfinal matches against Barcelona and its Copa del Rey final against Real Sociedad.

Bellingham played the final 15 minutes in his first action since injuring a hamstring in his left leg in February.

Mbappé went on in the 64th as he works his way back into form following a knee injury.

Neither side had its top goalkeeper between the posts with both out injured. Andriy Lunin started for Madrid in place of Thibaut Courtois, while Juan Musso was in for Atletico’s Jan Oblak.

Barcelona edged Rayo Vallecano 1-0 at Camp Nou earlier Sunday to keep up its winning form before the international break.

Ronald Araújo headed in the game's only goal in the 24th from a corner kick, and goalkeeper Joan García's impressive performance showed why he is most likely heading to the World Cup with Spain.

“This is why we bought him,” coach Hansi Flick said about García. Barcelona paid crosstown rival Espanyol 25 million euros (now $28.9 million) for García last summer.

García was included in Spain’s squad for the first time on Friday ahead of two friendly matches which will serve as warmups for this summer’s World Cup.

Alaves achieved one of the club's most memorable wins after it erased a three-goal deficit at Celta Vigo to secure a 4-3 victory.

Opta Statistics said that was the first time a team has won on the road after trailing 3-0 in La Liga this century.

“I have never been part of a comeback like this,” said new Alaves coach Quique Sánchez Flores, who was in his third game in charge.

Also, Athletic Bilbao beat Real Betis 2-1 in the first match since Athletic coach Ernesto Valverde said he would leave the Basque club at the end of the season.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Atletico Madrid's Ademola Lookman, left, celebrates with Koke, centre, and Julian Alvarez after scoring the opening goal during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid in Madrid, Spain, Sunday, March 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior celebrates after scoring his side's first goal the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid in Madrid, Spain, Sunday, March 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Real Madrid's Federico Valverde celebrates after scoring his side's second goal the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid in Madrid, Spain, Sunday, March 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior celebrates after scoring his side's third goal during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid in Madrid, Spain, Sunday, March 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Barcelona's head coach Hansi Flick returns the ball during a La Liga soccer match between Barcelona and Rayo Vallecano in Barcelona, Spain, Sunday, March 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort)

Barcelona's Raphinha in action during a La Liga soccer match between Barcelona and Rayo Vallecano in Barcelona, Spain, Sunday, March 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort)

Barcelona's Ronald Araujo celebrates after scoring during a La Liga soccer match between Barcelona and Rayo Vallecano in Barcelona, Spain, Sunday, March 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort)

Barcelona's Ronald Araujo celebrates after scoring during a La Liga soccer match between Barcelona and Rayo Vallecano in Barcelona, Spain, Sunday, March 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort)

Barcelona's Ronald Araujo celebrates after scoring during a La Liga soccer match between Barcelona and Rayo Vallecano in Barcelona, Spain, Sunday, March 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort)