Matt Fitzpatrick claims victory at the PGA Tour’s Valspar Championship.

PALM HARBOR, Fla. — Matt Fitzpatrick overcame the disappointment of a near miss at Sawgrass on Sunday, sinking a birdie on the 18th hole from just inside 15 feet to finish with a 3-under 68 and secure victory at the Valspar Championship by one stroke over David Lipsky.

Fitzpatrick played without a bogey on a sun-drenched Copperhead course at Innisbrook, which thwarted the aspirations of many, including Sungjae Im and Presidents Cup captain Brandt Snedeker.

The concluding hour evolved into a contest with Lipsky, the 37-year-old American who has claimed titles on four different tours globally but has yet to win on the PGA Tour.

Fitzpatrick, who missed four birdie opportunities from within 10 feet during a seven-hole stretch around the turn, made a 30-foot birdie putt on the par-3 15th to take the lead, only for Lipsky, playing in the group behind, to match him with a 7-foot birdie on the 14th.

Fitzpatrick, who clinched the DP World Tour Championship to conclude the European tour season last November, had the final word. His birdie putt was flawless, and the 2022 U.S. Open champion celebrated emphatically with a fist pump.

Lipsky’s birdie attempt from just outside 30 feet on the 18th narrowly missed to the left.

This victory marks Fitzpatrick’s third on the PGA Tour, complementing his nine titles on the European tour, and comes just a week after he felt he performed well only to be edged out by Cameron Young on the final hole of the Players Championship.

They were tied when Fitzpatrick hit a drive he believed was perfectly placed, only to see it roll into the pine needles, forcing him to lay up. He ultimately missed a 7-foot par putt. However, there was no letdown at Innisbrook.

“The key was that I felt I was playing well,” Fitzpatrick stated. “I aimed to maintain that and had confidence in my ability to do so. Achieving that over four rounds was special this week.”

Fitzpatrick concluded at 11-under 273 on a Copperhead course that posed a significant challenge, with the greens already exhibiting a yellow tint during the opening round and becoming firmer and faster each day under the relentless sun.

Lipsky missed a birdie opportunity from 15 feet at the par-3 17th, on a line similar to the one Fitzpatrick had just missed moments earlier, and his tee shot on the 18th found an awkward lie in the rough. The situation was further complicated by the loud cheers ahead when Fitzpatrick made his birdie.

“I was caught between clubs,” Lipsky remarked. “I opted for a more aggressive approach. I almost pulled it off. It was close. Hats off to Matt.”

It was still a significant week for Lipsky, who started the year with conditional status after finishing at No. 107. This result matches his best finish on the PGA Tour, elevates him to No. 33 in the FedEx Cup standings, and likely secures him a spot in a prominent event following the Masters.

Jordan Smith of England secured third place.

Im commenced the final round with a three-shot advantage, which evaporated quickly due to a cold putter. The South Korean, who had led since the opening round, recorded a 40 on the front nine and did not achieve his first birdie until the 11th hole. He finished with a 74, tying for fourth.

Snedeker, the 45-year-old who last won in August 2018, birdied the opening hole but failed to make another birdie. He was still tied for the lead until he three-putted for double bogey on the 12th hole, initiating a challenging back nine that resulted in a 40 and a 76, placing him in a tie for 17th.

“I stood on the 10th tee tied for the lead, which is all you can ask for,” Snedeker commented. “My swing abandoned me on the back nine. I really struggled. … All those putts I had been making all week dried up today.”

Marco Penge, one of five players who were tied for the lead at various points in the final round, fell back with bogeys on Nos. 12 and 16. He birdied the 18th for a 71, joining Im and Xander Schauffele (65) in a tie for fourth.

Schauffele completed his round and was preparing to drive home to south Florida when he glanced at the leaderboard and realized he likely needed to stay given the firmness of the course. He eventually departed two hours later when Smith finished at 9-under 275.