MATT FITZPATRICK survived a brief scare to claim his second European Tour title in the Nordea Masters and boost his chances of a Ryder Cup debut in September.
Fitzpatrick carded a closing 71 at Bro Hof Slott Golf Club to finish three shots ahead of Denmark's Lasse Jensen, who secured his place in the Open Championship with the best finish of his career. The 21-year-old from Sheffield 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.
Fitzpatrick responded with a birdie on the ninth before three-putting the 10th from long range after Colsaerts had birdied the same hole to close within two of the lead. However, Colsaerts then bogeyed the par-five 12th before Fitzpatrick birdied to restore a four-shot lead and the former US Amateur champion had the luxury of dropping just his fourth shot of the week on the 18th to secure an impressive victory. The first prize of €250,000 sees Fitzpatrick regain third place in the Ryder Cup qualifying race from compatriot Chris Wood, who won the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth last week.
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 span his tee shot back into the water on the 17th to double bogey.
