Alex Fitzpatrick earned his first DP World Tour title with a dramatic comeback victory at the Hero Indian Open.
The 27-year-old Englishman, brother of last week’s Valspar Championship winner Matt Fitzpatrick, entered the final round at the DLF Golf & Country Club four shots off overnight leader and defending champion Eugenio Lopez-Chacarra of Spain but that gap quickly extended to six thanks to consecutive bogeys at the third and fourth before Fitzpatrick began his remarkable turnaround.
From then on momentum was with Fitzpatrick as he found himself on the charge recording eight birdies from the next 13 holes while Chacarra faltered at various stages. Fitzpatrick took the lead for the first time from the 15th which he never relinquished as Chacarra continued to stutter with three successive bogeys to all but end his chances of victory. Heading to the last, Fitzpatrick was four shots clear and despite a double-bogey to end the event, he carded a 3-under 69 to finish on 9 under and enter the winners circle for the first time on his 87th DP World Tour start.
As a result, golf history was made with Alex and Matt Fitzpatrick becoming the first brothers to win on consecutive weeks on the PGA TOUR and DP World Tour.
“It’s great to join my brother Matt as a winner on the DP World Tour,” Fitzpatrick said following his win. “It can be hard sometimes when you’re constantly chasing someone’s accolades but luckily it’s my brother, so it’s not horrific.
“It’s extremely nice to join him in the winners’ ranks and hopefully I can continue to push on. I idolize him, so just trying to be like him in every way, so hopefully we can keep doing well.”
Chacarra carded a final-round 75 to finish in second on 7 under while the trio of France’s Ugo Coussand, England’s Andy Sullivan, and South Africa’s M.J. Daffue shared third on 5 under.
What is the next event?
The next event on the DP World Tour schedule, following the Masters, is the Volvo China Open taking place between 23-26 April at Enhance Anting GC in China.