Fitzpatrick holds nerve to claim Dubai win

Matthew Fitzpatrick has won the EPGA's season-ending DP World Tour Championship in Dubai.

Matthew Fitzpatrick
Matthew Fitzpatrick has won the EPGA's season-ending DP World Tour Championship in Dubai. (AAP)

England's Matthew Fitzpatrick sank a birdie putt from four feet on the final hole to seal the DP World Tour Championship on Sunday in a dramatic conclusion.

The $1.33 million first prize for the season-ending tournament in Dubai meant the 22-year-old, who carded a five-under-par 67 to finish the tournament 17-under, roughly doubled the amount he had won combined from his other 25 events this year.

"It means the world. To win one of these Final Series events is really special, and this one in particular, obviously the last tournament of the year," Fitzpatrick said.

"Four-footers aren't normally what you want for the win but to finish it off like that makes it a lot sweeter."

He edged out compatriot Tyrrell Hatton, who led the field until he found water with his 18th tee shot, with the resultant bogey ultimately costing him the tournament by one shot.

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"It's a fairly difficult tee shot but I just leaked it a little bit right and paid the price for that," Hatton told reporters.

"Obviously it's a bitter pill to swallow, but it's been a great week and, for me, it's been the best year of my life. So I can't get too downbeat."

Earlier in the day, Henrik Stenson sealed the European money-list title to add to his British Open crown and Olympics silver medal already achieved in 2016.

The Swede carded a seven-under par 65, the same as playing partner and 2015 Race to Dubai winner Rory McIlroy, to snuff out any chance of being usurped as Order of Merit winner by his three potential challengers.

"It's been an amazing year. I didn't think I was going to be able to top 2013 but I think, as a whole, I think I have done that," Stenson told reporters, referring to the year of his first Race to Dubai win.

He added while he had not played consistently throughout the year, "at the right times I've played some great golf".


2 min read

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Source: AAP


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