Matt Fitzpatrick wins British Masters by two shots at Woburn

Highlights from the fourth round of the British Masters at Woburn Golf Club.

Matt Fitzpatrick collected his maiden professional title in some style as he clinched an impressive two-shot win at the British Masters supported by Sky Sports.

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British Masters supported by Sky Sports

Fitzpatrick capped a hugely successful week at Woburn with a composed back-nine on the Marquess Course, holding off late charges from Shane Lowry and Fabrizio Zanotti to complete a wire-to-wire victory.

In a week where Sky Sports joined forces with the European Tour and focused heavily on driving young engagement for golf, it was fitting that the youngest player in the field should be crowned champion.

The 21-year-old, who led outright after an opening 64 and held a share of the lead after the second and third rounds, trailed for much of the final day until birdies at 11 and 12 lifted him back into the lead.

Image: Fitzpatrick was the youngest player in the field at Woburn

Fitzpatrick then displayed composure beyond his years as he opened up a two-shot lead with further birdies at the 15th and 17th holes either side of a brilliant par save from a greenside bunker.

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Matt Fitzpatrick showed experience beyond his years as he birdied the 17th hole at Woburn to stay one shot ahead of the field at the British Masters.

He perhaps fell victim to a rush of adrenalin at the last when he flew the green with his approach and splashed out to 12 feet, but closest-rival Zanotti also found the rear bunker and could not get up and down.

Fitzpatrick had the luxury of three putts for the title, and he two-putted for only his third bogey of the weekend as he closed with a 68 to post a winning score of 15 under par.

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Lowry, the highest-ranked player in the field, struggled on the greens but still managed to get birdie putts to drop at the fourth and sixth, and made another at the 303-yard 12th despite going over the green with a booming drive.

A poor tee-shot cost him his first bogey of the day at 14, but he put pressure on the leaders with birdies at 15 and 17 before a par at the last capped a 67 and earned him the clubhouse lead on 13 under.

The Irishman had to settle for a share of second with Zanotti, who turned in 32 only to drop shots at 13 and 14 before getting back to 14 under with birdies at 16 and 17 which kept him within two of Fitzpatrick.

Image: Shane Lowry kept the pressure on with two late birdies

But his bogey at the last cost him outright second place, while Soren Kjeldsen also finished two shots adrift after being unable to build on an outward 32, the Dane stumbling down the stretch with eight pars and a bogey at 16 in a 69.

Luke Donald, one of the tournament ambassadors, threatened to mount a charge when he birdied the fourth and chipped in for another at the fifth, but bogeys at eight and 12 took him out of contention.

Image: Luke Donald's challenge stalled after two early birdies

The former world No 1 got back to 11 under with birdies at 15 and 16 as he closed with a 69 to share fifth with Marcus Fraser and Mike Lorenzo-Vera, who both boosted their prize money with four-under 67s.

Kiradech Aphibarnrat shared the overnight lead with Fitzpatrick, but the big-hitting Thai bogeyed the first two holes and a double-bogey at 13 ended his chances as he limped home with a 72.

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Young Englishman Oliver Fisher returned the best round of the day, a 65 lifting him 26 places up the leaderboard and into a tie for ninth alongside compatriots Chris Wood, who birdied three of the last four to card a 67, and Anthony Wall.

Ian Poulter, the host of the British Masters, speaks to Tim Barter about an average week on the course but an exceptional week off it

Lee Westwood couldn't get much going in a two-birdie, one-bogey 70 that left him on eight under, while tournament host Ian Poulter bogeyed three straight holes on the front nine and also doubled the 13th, although three birdies over the next four salvaged a 72 as he finished 11 shots behind the champion.

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