Ryder Cup looming large as Fitzpatrick nets second title

Matt Fitzpatrick holds the trophy after winning the Nordea Masters at Bro Hof Slott Golf Club in Sweden yesterday. Picture: Getty

The 21-year-old from Sheffield carded a closing 71 at Bro Hof Slott Golf Club to finish three shots ahead of Denmark’s Lasse Jensen, pictured, who secured his place in the Open Championship at Royal Troon with the best finish of his career.

And the first prize of �250,000 saw Fitzpatrick move within �500,000 of the total which secured Jamie Donaldson the final automatic Ryder Cup qualifying place for Gleneagles in 2014.

“It’s something I’m trying to play down a little bit,” said Fitzpatrick, who finished seventh in the Masters at Augusta in April. “I’m really trying to play each week as it comes and there’s still a long way to go before then. There are still three majors and anyone can win them. Hopefully I’ll keep playing well and see where we end up come September.”

Asked if he had achieved more than expected following his maiden win at the British Masters last year, Fitzpatrick added on Sky Sports: “A million miles ahead of schedule. It’s been a tough few weeks, to be fair. After the Masters I had three missed cuts in a row and didn’t play as well as I’d like last week [in the BMW PGA Championship] and all of a sudden you turn up this week and pick up a win. I felt like today was the round where I’d been under the most pressure but hitting fairways and greens was key. I think I missed two all day and had a three-putt so I’m absolutely delighted with that and played fantastic. I think this is the best I’ve played.”

Fitzpatrick took a five-shot lead into the final round and extended his advantage with a birdie on the second, only for former Ryder Cup player Nicolas Colsaerts to close the gap with a birdie on the sixth and eagle on the ninth. Colsaerts also birdied the tenth from 30 feet and, when Fitzpatrick three-putted the same hole from long range, his lead was down to two, but Colsaerts then bogeyed the par-five 12th before Fitzpatrick birdied to restore a four-shot lead he was never in danger of relinquishing.

Jensen, who had earlier holed out from 152 yards for an eagle on the sixth, chipped in for another on the 13th and inherited second place as Colsaerts spun his tee shot back into the water on the 17th to double bogey.

“It’s a huge thing because it will be my first major so for me to be in The Open is pretty awesome,” he said. “I have always wanted to play in The Open because it has so much history and tradition that has built up around it. I’m over the moon about the thought of it.

“When I came down the 18th I could see that I had a chance of it and I grabbed it and it feels great. As a little kid you watch The Open and it’s the best players in the world – that’s why I play golf, that’s why we’re here, to compete with the best  players.”

Scott Henry, the joint first-round leader, finished in a tie for 25th, slipping 16 spots, as he signed off with a disappointing 78 that included a quadruple-bogey 7 at the 17th.