Matt Fitzpatrick's celebration of his RBC Heritage victory was tempered by a hefty tax bill that cost him nearly half of his $3.6 million prize money.
The English golfer defeated Scottie Scheffler in a playoff at Harbor Town Golf Links to claim his second victory of the season. However, his triumph came with an immediate $1,566,000 tax burden, representing approximately 43.5 percent of his total winnings.
Fitzpatrick faced the top federal tax rate of 37 percent due to the size of his earnings, costing him roughly $1,332,000. The remainder of his tax bill came from South Carolina's "jock tax" for non-resident athletes, which carries a top rate of 6.5 percent and cost him an additional $234,000.
Fortunately for Fitzpatrick, his Florida residence helped limit further penalties since Florida has no state income tax.
PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp addressed the possibility of LIV Golf players returning to the PGA Tour during an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show. His comments come amid reports of funding concerns for the Saudi-backed circuit.
"We're reading all the same headlines you're reading," Rolapp said. "We don't know what's going on over there. We know those guys are under contract, we'll respect that."
Rolapp referenced Brooks Koepka's return to the PGA Tour as a precedent for how such moves might unfold.
"Brooks came back to the PGA because he made a phone call and said, 'Look, I'm out of my contract, I'm ready to come back.' So we're thinking about it. We'll react when we have an opportunity to react, but right now, we're focused on making the PGA Tour better," he explained.
The CEO emphasized his openness to moves that would benefit the tour.
"But listen, I've said it publicly, and I'll say it again, I'm interested in whatever makes the PGA Tour better. That's what my job is, that's what I'm interested in doing, and that has no limit, so that's how I'll focus on it," Rolapp stated.
Bryson DeChambeau has emerged as a potential candidate for a return, with his LIV Golf contract reportedly expiring at the end of this year. Reports suggest renewal talks have stalled, and DeChambeau explored alternative options during Masters week.
The PGA Tour has already welcomed back former LIV players including Koepka and Patrick Reed, establishing a pathway for others who may seek to return.
For Fitzpatrick, the focus remains on his strong season start despite the tax implications of his success. His playoff victory over Scheffler marked another disappointment for the World No. 1, who finished runner-up in consecutive weeks after also finishing one stroke behind Rory McIlroy at the Masters.
As the golf landscape continues to evolve, all eyes will be on potential player movements and LIV Golf's funding situation as the season progresses.