FITZPATRICK ON A HIGH IN ALPS

MATT Fitzpatrick really did scale the heights in claiming his fourth European Tour title at the age of just 23 with a tense playoff success against Australian Scott Hend in the heart of the Swiss Alps yesterday.

The only players in tour history who were younger with a quartet of trophies to their name just happen to go by the names of Seve Ballesteros, Jose-Maria Olazabal, Sandy Lyle, Sergio Garcia and Matteo Manassero.

The Sheffield starlet claimed the Omega European Masters with a wonderful final round 64 before beating the luckless Hend at the third extra hole, after the 44 year old failed to get up and down from the back of the 18th green. It was the second year in a row that Hend had lost this title in a play-off.

‘I’m delighted to win this event, it’s one that’s stood out on the calendar for me ever since I first played here in 2014,’ said Fitzpatrick.

As ever, he enjoyed a winner’s touch of fortune towards the end, as he got away with a poor bogey at the 17th and then watched Hend miss from 6ft at the second extra hole.

Ireland’s Paul Dunne finished a disappointing three over par, leaving him tied for 70th.

Meanwhile, in Japan on the over-50s Champions Tour, Colin Montgomerie brought some welcome relief to a troubled year filled with injury and a nasty court case involving his exwife Gaynor with his first win of the season.