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Matt Fitzpatrick beat Scottie Scheffler in a playoff at the RBC Heritage over the weekend in what turned out to be a road fight for him.
The crowd in Hilton Head, South Carolina quickly pulled for Scheffler, a Texan, to complete the comeback over Fitzpatrick, who was born in England.
Chants of “USA” played, which annoyed TV 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 Harbor Town Golf Links in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, on April 19, 2026. (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
“I was playing the RBC Classic … and I couldn’t believe the 18th hole when Scottie Scheffler made a comeback against Matt Fitzpatrick. Did anyone see the crowd?” Russo began for his “What Are You Mad About” segment on Wednesday’s edition of ESPN’s “First Take.
“They chanted ‘USA, USA’ and walked down the 18th fairway! This isn’t the Ryder Cup. We’re not fighting Great Britain in a war for crying out loud! In a golf tournament? At the RBC? [Fitzpatrick] living awfully in Miami!.. This is not the ’80 Olympics!
Scheffler and Fitzpatrick have both featured in each of the previous three Ryder Cups, with Fitzpatrick’s European teams winning the last two. Fitzpatrick and Scheffler met in Friday’s foursome in the most recent event.
Scottie Scheffler of Team United States and Matt Fitzpatrick of Team Europe shake hands on the 15th green during Friday morning foursomes matches of the 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage State Park Golf Course in Farmingdale, New York, on September 26, 2025. (Ben Jared/PGA Tour)
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This is hardly the first time USA chants have been heard at a regularly sanctioned golf event. The aforementioned DeChambeau heard USA chants as he walked into his second US Open against McIlroy. Scheffler went 1-4 in his five matches at Bethpage Black in September and beat Rory McIlroy 1 up in their Sunday singles match. Fitzpatrick squandered a lead of 5 up to Bryson DeChambeau to finish all square.
The New York Ryder Cup crowd was blown by media and golfers alike, which had been a concern even before the event. However, that criticism came because of much more than simple USA chants.
McIlroy got the worst of it, whether it was telling him his wife was “a four,” asking about Amanda Balionis amid a previously rumored fling (with his wife just feet away), dropping F-bombs or constant reminders of the 2024 US Open at Pinehurst No. 2.
Chris “Mad Dog” Russo speaks onstage at SiriusXM’s Bar A at The Jersey Shore in Lake Como, NJ on July 26, 2024. (Dave Kotinsky/Getty Images for SiriusXM)
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Fortunately for Fitzpatrick, he wasn’t hit too hard. But the crowd still made it known who they supported.
