Matthew Fitzpatrick won his fourth European Tour title with a play-off victory over Australia’s Scott Hend at the European Masters in Switzerland.
The 23-year-old from Sheffield shot a closing six-under 64 to end on 14 under at Crans-sur-Sierre.
Hend led by three shots going into round four, and had an eight-foot putt to win on the second play-off hole, but he missed, and a wayward shot from a bunker on the third play-off hole gave Fitzpatrick the chance to close out.
“I’m delighted,” said Fitzpatrick. “It’s one that I’ve always wanted to win. I love playing this golf course. It’s always stood out on the schedule. I kept my nerve and played really smart all week.”
Fitzpatrick was left with a putt of around a foot for the win when Hend could only make bogey, as both men completed the 18th hole for the third time in the play-off.
Hend, who lost the same event in a play-off to Alex Noren last year, had fired through the green from a fairway bunker and his chip back onto the putting surface rolled through the green, stopping perilously close to a water hazard.
Both players began the day early with holes to complete in their third rounds following weather-disrupted play on Saturday. But it was in the fourth round where Fitzpatrick gathered momentum, with eight birdies and two bogeys seeing him card a six-under 64. The Sheffield-born player briefly held a two-shot lead, before making a bogey on the 17th hole. But the round was enough to secure a first play-off of his career on the European Tour.