Dubai: Matt Fitzpatrick birdied the last to win the DP World Tour Championship by a stroke at 17-under-par ahead of fellow-Englishman Tyrrell Hatton at Jumeirah Golf Estates’ Earth Course on Sunday.
Hatton was a shot clear of Fitzpatrick with two holes to play and miraculously saved par with a dramatic chip out of the bunker on 17.
Then Hatton hit his drive off 18 into the creek to bogey the final hole, which Fitzpatrick duly birdied with a nerve-jangling four foot putt to finish.
Aged 22 and 80 days, Fitzpatrick is now the youngest player to win the tournament, beating previous record holder Rory McIlroy who was 23 years and 205 days when he won the first of his two titles here back in 2012.
This is only Fitzpatrick’s second appearance at the European Tour’s season-ending event, where he finished tied for fourth on his debut last year.
And although it’s now his third career win in 65 events since turning professional in 2014, it is the first time he’s won multiple events in a season, having also won the Nordea Masters in June.
“To win one of these Final Series events is really special,” said Fitzpatrick, who shot a final round of 67 to pocket €1.25 million, moving from 51st to inside the world’s top 30. “And to win this one in particular, obviously the last tournament of the year, it means the world.
“Words can’t describe it. It’s not going to sink in for a while, but you know it’s been a special year and then to end it like this with a win is amazing,” added the youngster who got two wins, four top five and seven top 10 finishes in 28 events this year.
Fitzpatrick was playing in the group just behind Hatton but didn’t know the full extent of his compatriot’s wobble until the end. “I sort of had a rough idea, I saw that he had missed a putt and there were a few groans in the crowd. But it wasn’t until I got up there [to the 18th] and saw the scores that I realised what I needed to do for the win.
“Four footers aren’t normally what you want for the win but to finish it off like that makes it a lot sweeter.”
The birdie at the end was one of six in Fitzpatrick’s final round, three on either nine, with his only blemish being a bogey just after the turn.
Up until Hatton’s last bogey he hadn’t faltered, with five earlier birdies in his round.
“Tyrrell is a great lad, he was just walking down towards me as I was walking into the scorer’s office and he came and congratulated me. For someone to do that after he’s been in contention is very special. He’s a credit to the Tour,” added Fitzpatrick.
