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Matt Fitzpatrick bested Scottie Scheffler in a playoff at the RBC Heritage over the weekend in what became a road game for him.
The Hilton Head, South Carolina, crowd was quickly pulling for Scheffler, a Texan, to complete the comeback over Fitzpatrick, who was born in England.
Chants of “U-S-A” rang out, which irked broadcasting legend Chris “Mad Dog” Russo.
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Matthew Fitzpatrick of England is congratulated by Scottie Scheffler of the United States after winning the RBC Heritage at Harbour Town Golf Links in Hilton Head Island, S.C., on April 19, 2026. (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
“I put on the RBC Classic … and I could not believe the 18th hole when Scottie Scheffler was making a comeback against Matt Fitzpatrick. Did anyone see the crowd?” Russo said during his “What Are You Mad About” segment on Wednesday’s edition of ESPN’s “First Take.
“They were singing ‘U-S-A, U-S-A’ walking down the 18th fairway. This is not the Ryder Cup. We’re not fighting Britain in a war for crying out loud. In a golf tournament? At the RBC? [Fitzpatrick] freaking lives in Miami. … This is not the ’80 Olympics.”
Scheffler and Fitzpatrick both have starred in each of the previous three Ryder Cups, with Fitzpatrick’s European team winning the last two. Fitzpatrick and Scheffler faced off in Friday foursomes in the most recent event.
Scottie Scheffler of Team United States and Matt Fitzpatrick of Team Europe shake hands on the 15th green during the Friday morning foursomes matches of the 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage State Park Golf Course in Farmingdale, N.Y., Sept. 26, 2025. (Ben Jared/PGA Tour)
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It is hardly the first time U-S-A chants were heard at a regularly-sanctioned golf event. DeChambeau heard the U-S-A chants while going for his second U.S. Open against McIlroy. Scheffler went 1-4 in his five matches at Bethpage Black in September, beating Rory McIlroy 1 up in their Sunday singles match. Fitzpatrick squandered a 5 up lead to Bryson DeChambeau to finish all square.
The New York Ryder Cup crowd was blasted by the media and golfers, which had been a concern even before the event. However, that criticism came due to much more than simple U-S-A chants.
McIlroy was hit with the worst of it, whether it was telling him his wife was “a four,” asking about Amanda Balionis and a previously rumored fling (with his wife mere feet away), dropping F-bombs or constant reminders of the 2024 U.S. Open at Pinehurst No. 2.
Chris “Mad Dog” Russo speaks on stage at SiriusXM’s Bar A at The Jersey Shore in Lake Como, N.J., on July 26, 2024. (Dave Kotinsky/Getty Images for SiriusXM)
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Thankfully for Fitzpatrick, he didn’t get hit that hard. But the crowd still made it known who they were backing.
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