Rai continues England’s golden run with Hong Kong win
ANOTHER week on the European Tour, another win for an Englishman. Aaron Rai’s accomplished victory over a fast-finishing Matt Fitzpatrick in the Honma Hong Kong Open yesterday was the 10th English success in the last 16 weeks on the circuit, an unprecedented period of domination by players from one nation going back to the tour’s formation in 1976. Rai certainly had to work hard for his maiden success on the regular tour. Fitzpatrick put the 23-yearold from Wolverhampton under such pressure the latter’s seemingly comfortable six-shot lead at the start of the final round had been reduced to a stroke with three to play. But the highly-rated Rai held on for a deserved triumph to pick up £258,610 in prize-money. ‘It’s incredible to win on any tour, let alone this one, and I feel particularly lucky to win an event with such a long history,’ said Rai. If it feels like only yesterday since the last season ended, you’re not far wrong. With unseemly haste, the tour scuttled off from Dubai the previous Sunday to the Far east to begin the 2019 campaign. Lured by lucrative appearance fees, the field boasted not only world No 9 Tommy Fleetwood but the last two Masters champions, Sergio Garcia and Patrick Reed. Rai earned his sizeable advantage going into the final round on the back of a course-record 61 on Friday, but was clearly in for a test of nerve as his two playing partners yesterday were Fitzpatrick and Fleetwood. While the latter dropped four shots in the middle of his round, Fitzpatrick went for the jugular with a thrilling display before falling just short. Scot David Drysdale was fifth after a final round 66. In the World Cup of Golf in Melbourne, Belgians Thomas Pieters and Thomas Detry spoiled the party for the hosts by beating Aussie pair Marc Leishman and Cameron Smith by two shots. Scotland duo Martin Laird and Russell Knox finished tied for 14th.