Matt Fitzpatrick earns Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler comparisons after RBC Heritage playoff victory

Hoggard now believes Fitzpatrick is the clear-cut third-best player on the planet and can go toe-to-toe with the top two.

“All of a sudden, we talk about this really cool rivalry between Rory and Scottie Scheffler. I don’t know that Fitz is that far out of it,” he said.

“I think, if you put him under the right golf course, under the right conditions… Look at what he did at The Players Championship. And then to bounce back from that, almost completely unscathed, no scar tissue whatsoever.

“He just realised Cam Young hit the drive of the century on that final hole. He then wins a couple of weeks later, does it again at a Signature Event on an iconic golf course.

“It is a one, two and three in the game right now. I truly believe that.”

Hoggard’s take on Fitzpatrick’s new standing within the game suggests he is better than LIV golfers Bryson DeChambeau and Jon Rahm.

The pundit also ranks the RBC Heritage winner higher than PGA Tour stars Cam Young, Tommy Fleetwood, and Justin Rose.

With that in mind, Fitzpatrick should be one of the leading contenders to win the PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club next month.

Read more:

• Matt Fitzpatrick praised for his conduct after beating Scottie Scheffler in a playoff at the RBC Heritage
• Jon Rahm shares opinion on the course at LIV Mexico after Bryson DeChambeau’s complaints and withdrawal
• Scottie Scheffler equals 40-year PGA Tour record after runner-up finish at the RBC Heritage