In a sensational finish to the European Tour’s 2020 season, Matthew Fitzpatrick held his nerve over the final stretch to clinch a one-stroke victory over Lee Westwood. The 47-year-old showed remarkable touch this season and rode that momentum to a third Harry Vardon trophy, twenty long years after winning it first at the turn of the millennium. Patrick Reed needed to step it up on Sunday to secure his place among the European greats, but an up and down Sunday, left him just short in a tie for third place with Viktor Hovland.
Lee Westwood ended a lengthy title drought this season with a sensational victory in the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship and a second place finish this week secured him European honours for the third time in an illustrious career. Westwood won the order of merit in 2000 before falling into a slump that landed him outside the top 200. He worked his way back to the top after winning the first ever Race to Dubai in 2009. Even though he suffered yet another slump, slipping outside the top 100, he kept chipping away before producing a phoenix like effort this season to clinch the Race to Dubai yet again.
Fitzpatrick started the day with a share of the lead and roared ahead of the pack with a blistering run on the forward nine. Starting the day with four straight birdies, he raced past the bend in 31 strokes, moving comfortably ahead at 16-under. But the birdie at the seventh proved to be his last of the round, as he scrambled through the finishing stretch with some spectacular saves to retain his advantage.
A wayward tee shot at the 17th threatened to produce some late drama, but Fitzpatrick steadied his nerves to absorb the bogey. He coasted home to a famous victory with an even par five on the 72nd hole for a 15-under total of 273. Westwood also shot a 68 to finish one behind the winner and take the Race to Dubai honours.
“The start I got off to, four birdies in the first four, five under through seven, it’s a dream start,” he said. “Fortunately I managed to pull away from that and really sort of create some distance.
“It was just obviously a bit of a grind on the back nine. For me it was just about finishing one hole at a time and just getting through it. So managed to do that and finished well.
“I had no idea about the Race to Dubai because I knew where I started the week at 16, a lot needed to go my way. When I saw Lee at second, it did enter my head briefly going to 18, even if I win it’s probably not going to be enough, anyway. I just wanted to win a lot this week.
“I’m just trying to improve every year. I really set high standards of myself and I am honestly very hard on myself and my team will all tell you the same thing. To be here at 26, and I don’t know what this win has taken me to in the world, potentially my highest year-end ranking, I’m very, very happy.”
Matt Fitzpatrick was delighted to finish the season on a high
Reed needed to produce something special to realise his dream of winning the European Tour’s order of merit. Even though he shot six birdies in the final round, his chances of seasonal success were dissipated by four bogeys. He was especially hurt by back to back bogeys on the 16th and 17th holes. Reed signed off with a birdie on the 18th hole, as he did in each of the previous rounds, but it was only enough to secure a tie for third with Hovland. The Norwegian shot a 69, one better than the American for a solid finish to the season.
Sami Valimaki showed early promise, but his challenge fizzled out after taking four birdies in the first five holes. He settled for another 69, his fourth this week, to finish fifth with Laurie Canter. The Englishman started the day in a share of the lead, but 71 on Sunday did not cut it any higher in the face of some inspired golf from Fitzpatrick and Westwood.
Victor Perez ended the week in seventh at 278, two behind Valimaki and Canter. Branden Grace and Tyrrell Hatton capped off their season with another top ten finish at 9-under.
Tommy Fleetwood, Collin Morikawa, Andy Sullivan and Adri Arnaus rounded off the top ten at 281.
