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It was a tense end to the weekend at the 2022 U.S. Open, with the final four holes becoming must-see television. At the end of it all, though, British golfer Matthew Fitzpatrick emerged with his first major win.

After three rounds and heading into Sunday, Fitzpatrick and Will Zalatoris held a one-stroke lead. Neither had a win on the PGA Tour heading into this week's U.S. Open at The Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts; Zalatoris came oh-so-close at the PGA Championship before Justin Thomas' come-from-behind victory.

Once again, Zalatoris put up a valiant effort at the U.S. Open. He was one shot ahead of Fitzpatrick with six holes to play, until the Englishman birdied on the 13th and 15th holes.

At the final hole, Zalatoris had a chance to tie Fitzpatrick at 6 under, but he curved his putt just past the hole from 14 feet away, ensuring his rival's first major win.

https://twitter.com/usopengolf/status/1538655291171999744

It was the first time the U.S. Open had been held at Brookline since 1988, and that served Fitzpatrick extremely well. He had won the U.S. Amateur on the course in 2013 when he was 18 years old and now joins Jack Nicklaus as the only players to win that tournament and the U.S. Open on the same course. (Nicklaus did it at Pebble Beach.)

Fitzpatrick rose to No. 1 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking following that 2013 win at The Country Club.

The 27-year-old attended Northwestern University before deciding to focus on his amateur golf career, turning pro after the 2014 U.S. Open and earning his first pro win just one year later at the 2015 British Masters.

He is the first Englishman to win the U.S. Open since 2013.

Masters champion Scottie Scheffler tied Zalatoris for second place Sunday at 5 under. Defending champion Jon Rahm finished tied for 12th. Rory McIlroy, who was looking for his first major win since 2014, was tied for fifth with Collin Morikawa.

There was a lot on the table at Brookline. At last year's U.S. Open at Torrey Pines, the USGA awarded $12.5 million in total prize money.

This year, the purse was up to an eye-popping $17.5 million, and Fitzpatrick will take home $3.15 million.

Let's take a look at how the prize-money payout looks for the final leaderboard. The 81 players who missed the cut, including Tony Finau, Cameron Smith, Sergio Garcia, Phil Mickelson and Cameron Young, each received $10,000.

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2022 U.S. Open Final Prize Money Payout

Win: Matthew Fitzpatrick (-6), $3,150,000

T-2: Scottie Scheffler (-5), $1,557,687

T-2: Will Zalatoris (-5), $1,557,687

4: Hideki Matsuyama (-3), $859,032

T-5: Collin Morikawa (-2), $674, 953

T-5: Rory McIlroy (-2), $674, 953

T-7: Denny McCarthy (-1), $487,926

T-7: Adam Hadwin (-1), $487,926

T-7: Keegan Bradley (-1), $487,926

T-10: Gary Woodland (E), $407, 219

T-10: Joel Dahmen (E), $407, 219

Full leaderboard available here

12: $359,311

13: $334,805

14: $309,008

15: $286,896

16: $268,470

17: $253,729

18: $238,988

19: $224,247

20: $209,506

21: $196,792

22: $184,078

23: $171,732

24: $160,308

25: $150,358

26: $141,882

27: $135,432

28: $129,720

29: $124,192

30: $118,665

31: $113,137

32: $107,609

33: $102,081

34: $97,106

35: $93,052

36: $88,998

37: $85,129

38: $81,444

39: $77,758

40: $74,073

41: $70,388

42: $66,703

43: $63,017

44: $59,332

45: $55,647

46: $52,330

47: $49,013

48: $45,881

49: $44,038

50: $42,196

51: $41,090

52: $40,169

53: $39,432

54: $39,063

55: $38,695

56: $38,326

57: $37,958

58: $37,589

59: $37,221

60: $36,852

Jon Rahm had all of the momentum at 5-under par heading into the final hole of the third round of play at the 2022 U.S. Open, but fell back to third place after a double-bogey on No. 18.

Now a shot back of the lead held by Will Zalatoris and Matt Fitzpatrick, the No. 2-ranked golfer in the world will have to find a way to play his way back to the top of the leaderboard at The Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts on Sunday.

All told, there were seven different players who had the lead on Saturday, with Zalatoris and Fitzpatrick tied for first after 54 holes.

This is the first time either player has held the lead heading into the final round of a major championship.

Here's the latest breakdown of the $17.5 million purse to be paid out on Sunday based on the leaderboard at the end of the third round.

2022 U.S. Open Top 10 Payouts

Only 18 holes left to play at The Country Club. #USOpen pic.twitter.com/I9l6AmGNTf

— U.S. Open (@usopengolf) June 19, 2022

1. Will Zalatoris (-4), $3,150,000

T1. Matt Fitzpatrick (-4), $1,890,000

3. Jon Rahm (-3), $1,225,374

4. Scottie Scheffler (-2), $859,032

T4. Keegan Bradley (-2), $715,491

T4. Adam Hadwin (-2), $634,415

7. Rory McIlroy (-1), $571,950

T7. Sam Burns (-1), $512,249

T7. Joel Dahmen (-1), $463,604

10. Nick Hardy (E), $425,830

Could Zalatoris or Fitzpatrick Get Their First Major at Brookline?

Everyone loves an underdog story and The Country Club at Brookline could be the next place to deliver one to golf fans worldwide.

Heading into the final round of play for the 2022 U.S. Open, Zalatoris and Fitzpatrick are sharing the lead.

What’s important to note about these two is the fact that both players, ranked No. 14 and No. 18, respectively, have yet to log a win on the PGA Tour, but have a legitimate shot to change that with only 18 holes left to play on Sunday.

Posting a three-under 67 on the 18th tee after bouncing back from a bunker, Zalatoris displayed the mettle he’s going to need to be crowned the U.S. Open champion.

https://twitter.com/usopengolf/status/1538327242471776256

“That 67 feels like a 61 or 62 in my book,” Zalatoris told Sky Sports. “That's some of the most solid golf I've played ever.”

Not to be outdone, Fitzpatrick, who closed out the third round with a bogey after a three-birdie stretch, will try to rely on experience to help propel him to victory on Sunday.

Back in 2013, the 27-year old golfer from the United Kingdom won the US Amateur at Brookline, so he’s accustomed to winning at The Country Club.

“I’d be lying if I said I haven’t thought about it (winning). It would just mean the world,” Fitzpatrick told Phil Casey of Yahoo Sports. “It’s obviously a special place for me and to go one step further and win a US Open round here would be even more special.

Your outright leader at the #USOpen = @MattFitz94 🐦 pic.twitter.com/HcUJT0GPmf

— U.S. Open (@usopengolf) June 18, 2022

“The US amateur was one of the biggest achievements in my career and still is, and if I won a major here tomorrow it would definitely overtake it. I’m excited to give myself another chance in a major…I am just really proud with the way I played.”

Both Zalatoris and Fitzpatrick will have to find a way to stave off Rahm, though, who is the defending champion and only one stroke behind.

Whether or not these two can finish strong in the final round or not, it’s going to be thrilling day on the course for golf fans, especially those celebrating Father's Day.

Collin Morikawa and Joel Dahmen are tied for the lead halfway through the 2022 U.S. Open.

They are both five-under par but have little margin for error with five players one shot behind them.

It was a tough day at The Country Club for most of the field, with 105 players finishing over par in the second round. Phil Mickelson was among that group. He missed the cut with a 36-hole score of 11-over par (73 on Friday).

Scottie Scheffler was the big mover among the top contenders on the leaderboard. He jumped 18 spots into a tie for eighth thanks to a three-under par 67 on Friday.

U.S. Open Round 2 Leaderboard

T-1. Collin Morikawa (-5)

T-1. Joel Dahmen (-5)

T-3. Hayden Buckey (-4)

T-3. Rory McIlroy (-4)

T-3. Jon Rahm (-4)

T-3. Aaron Wise (-4)

T-3. Beau Hossler (-4)

T-8. Patrick Rodgers (-3)

T-8. Nick Hardy (-3)

T-8. Scottie Scheffler (-3)

T-8. Brian Harman (-3)

T-8. Matthew NeSmith (-3)

Full leaderboard via PGATour.com

Morikawa's 66 was the lowest score of the second round. He opened on the back nine and had a terrific start with three birdies through his first nine holes. The 25-year-old took the lead on his 17th hole with a birdie on the par-five.

208 yards ➡️ 4 feet@Collin_Morikawa takes the lead at -5.pic.twitter.com/ycf7qwgS0i

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) June 17, 2022

Despite taking the lead on that hole, Morikawa did leave a shot on the table. He missed an easy four-foot putt for eagle that would have dropped him to six-under par.

Morikawa immediately looking at the face of his putter after missing a 4-foot eagle.

Elite #TourSauce.

— No Laying Up (@NoLayingUp) June 17, 2022

Morikawa last July: “I can’t get my irons through the Scottish turf.” /wins Open

Morikawa on Tuesday: “I can’t hit a fade.” /leads U.S. Open

— Kyle Porter (@KylePorterNS) June 17, 2022

Even though Morikawa hasn't been totally pleased with his performance thus far, it's hard to argue with the results. He is 36 holes away from becoming the first player since Brooks Koepka to win a major tournament in three consecutive years.

Collin Morikawa (-4) is tied for the lead at the U.S. Open.

Last player to win a major in three consecutive years: Brooks Koepka (2017-2019)

— PGA TOUR Communications (@PGATOURComms) June 17, 2022

Morikawa started this season well with five consecutive top-10 finishes. Including the missed cut at the Players Championship, he has just one top-25 finish in his past eight non-match play events.

Dahmen had a strong start on the front nine with three birdies and one bogey. He closed the round with an even-par 35 on the back nine, highlighted by a 60-foot birdie putt on No. 15 to tie for the lead.

From almost 60 feet to tie the lead ...@Joel_Dahmen buries it 🔥pic.twitter.com/XcSJw6tg9z

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) June 17, 2022

This is only the 34-year-old Dahmen's ninth appearance in a major tournament. He missed the cut four times and finished outside of the top 40 three times. The Washington native did finished tied for 10th at the 2020 PGA Championship.

Heading into the weekend, Collin Morikawa and Joel Dahmen co-lead the U.S. Open. Morikawa is making his 11th career major start, Dahmen his 9th.

Morikawa has two prior major victories, at the 2020 PGA Championship and 2021 Open Championship. Dahmen has one career major Top 40. pic.twitter.com/R61bzDHf8T

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) June 17, 2022

Hayden Buckley had a fantastic closing stretch to put himself in the mix heading into the weekend. He was two-over par for the day after 11 holes but made birdies on four of the final seven to get to four-under par overall and at one point tied for the lead.

Hayden Buckley last four starts:

MC
MC
MC
MC

He's tied for the lead in the US Open.

— No Laying Up (@NoLayingUp) June 17, 2022

Hayden Buckley just birded four of his last seven holes for a 2nd consecutive 68. He is tied for the lead at the U.S. Open.

Buckley's first made cut at a major. He had to get through a 5-for-1 playoff at sectionals to get here.

Related: idk what to do with my hands.

— Brian Scott Rippee (@bsrippee) June 17, 2022

McIlroy did drop a spot on the leaderboard but remains firmly in contention at four-under par. His day got off to a bad start with a double-bogey on No. 3. The 2011 U.S. Open champion got in the red thanks to three birdies on the back nine, including on No. 17.

Birdie on No. 17 🐦@McIlroyRory is T2 and one shot back.pic.twitter.com/Q3rfkWm3Ad

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) June 17, 2022

That might be one of the most impressive rounds I’ve seen Rory McIlroy play. Periods when he didn’t ‘have it’, but he dug deep, ground it out and rolled in momentum-saving putts at crucial moments. Mental resilience by the bucketload.

— Jamie Weir (@jamiecweir) June 17, 2022

Defending champion Jon Rahm is among the group with McIlroy at four under par. He had a 67 that was highlighted by an eagle on the par-five 14th hole.

The first #USOpen eagle of Jon Rahm's pro career moves him within a shot of the lead. pic.twitter.com/PnMgPZEJ2K

— U.S. Open (@usopengolf) June 17, 2022

Rahm is in a better position this year than he was in his 2021 win at Torrey Pines. The 27-year-old was two shots off the pace and tied for fifth through 36 holes last year. He needed a 67 in the final round to vault into the top spot.

Brooks Koepka was one of the biggest winners from the second round. After opening the U.S. Open with a 73, he got back to even par with a 67 on Friday. He, like Rahm, took advantage of No. 14 with an eagle.

271 yards ➡️ 14 feet

Eagle for @BKoepka. He's 4-under on his last 4 holes and 2 back of the lead 👀 pic.twitter.com/bPvwkvVExo

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) June 17, 2022

Friday was a marked improvement for Mickelson compared to his 78 in the first round. Lefty did have back-to-back birdies on Nos. 5 and 6 to get his score for the round to two-under par. He gave a shot back with a bogey on the next hole.

"I thought I was more prepared than I was," Mickelson told reporters after his round ended. "The U.S. Open is the ultimate test. And you don’t really know where your game is until you get tested, and I thought I was little bit closer than I was."

The U.S. Open was Mickelson's first PGA Tour event since January. He hasn't made the cut since the Tournament of Champions from Jan. 6 to 9. The 52-year-old finished 33rd at the inaugural LIV event last week in London.

Saturday's third round will tee off at 9:49 a.m. ET. Morikawa and Dahmen will be the final pairing, starting at 3:45 p.m.