RYDER WOES BANISHED BY MASTER MATT
MATT FITZPATRICK overcame his Ryder Cup heartbreak in his first event since Europe’s recordbreaking defeat with a three-shot victory at the Andalucia Masters.
The Englishman showed no ill effects after a two-week break, carding a closing bogey-free 69 to finish at six under and hold off the challenge of Swede Sebastian Soderberg and Australia’s Min Woo Lee.
Fitzpatrick started the day three off the lead but 15 consecutive pars were enough to edge him up of the leaderboard at the notoriously difficult 1997 Ryder Cup venue.
Soderberg had picked up four shots in his first four holes with the help of an eagle on the fourth and led by two at six under with two to play. But he lost his ball off the tee at 17 and Fitzpatrick pounced making his first birdie of the day from 10 feet on the 16th to take the lead.
He two-putted from over the back of the par-five 17th for a second birdie in a row and, with Soderberg also bogeying the last in a closing 70, Fitzpatrick claimed a seventh win in as many seasons on the European Tour.
He said: “Winning around Valderrama is something you want to tick off on the bucket list.
“To do it with no bogeys in the final round was extra special. I’m really pleased with the way my attitude was all week.”
Lee carded a 70 to share second with Soderberg, a shot clear of a group containing Englishmen Laurie Canter, James Morrison and Robert Rock.
Canter had entered the day with a three-shot lead but carded a closing 76, while Rock signed for a 69.
Scott Jamieson’s level-par round saw him finish top Scot on one over, with David Drysdale three shots further back.
Robert MacIntyre finished eight over with Grant Forrest 16 over.