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European Masters: Danny Willett keeps his cool to win an English duel in the Swiss Alps

A bogey-free 65 on the final day gave Willett his third European Tour victory by a stroke from 20-year-old Matt Fitzpatrick

Kevin Garside
Monday 27 July 2015 00:49 BST
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Danny Willett holes on the 18th to win the European Masters in Switzerland
Danny Willett holes on the 18th to win the European Masters in Switzerland

The Sheffield derby in the Swiss Alps ended with Danny Willett hitting the winner at the Omega European Masters at Crans-sur-Sierre on Sunday ahead of Matt Fitzpatrick.

A bogey-free 65 on the final day for a 17-under-par total gave Willett his third European Tour victory by a stroke from 20-year-old Sheffield United devotee Fitzpatrick. In a very English affair Wycombe’s Tyrell Hatton, finishing faster than Franz Klammer on the Lauberhorn, posted a 62 to close two strokes back in third.

What Willett might have done for a round like this a week ago when chasing victory at the Open. It is quite a run nevertheless by the 27-year-old, who will find himself at a career-high world ranking of 25th today, and within shooting distance of Rory McIlroy in the Race to Dubai.

“It was a great day,” Willett said. “I played some really good golf. Matt was snapping at my heels all day, so I’m delighted to get the job done. I kept really calm and just waited for the chances to come. Winning is always tough, and the heart rate on 18 was pretty high.”

Victory in Switzerland was Willett’s second of the season, following his win at the Nedbank Challenge in December, and edged him a smidgeon ahead of Louis Oosthuizen in the Race to Dubai and within 300,000 points of McIlroy, whose immediate future remains uncertain after he damaged ankle ligaments three weeks ago.

Should McIlroy not return to defend his PGA Championship crown he will almost certainly lose his world No 1 ranking to Jordan Spieth and see Willett take over at the top of the European list.

“Two wins and good performances in majors and world golf championships is more than I could have hoped for really, but I have worked really hard so it is nice to get the rewards for it,” said Willett, who secured victory with a hat-trick of birdies on the back nine.

Fitzpatrick had a share of the lead overnight and kept pace with Willett until he dropped a shot at the 11th. Though he responded with back-to-back birdies at 14 and 15 he ran out of holes.

“I played to win but Danny just went one better, so you have to take your hat off to him. I gave it everything, but Danny was very impressive,” said Fitzpatrick, who in 2013 became the first Englishman to win the US Amateur Championship since the First World War.

“There were a couple of turning points but I matched him birdie for birdie for the most part. I am really pleased with the week. It has been building for a few weeks now, so, hopefully, I can get over the line at some stage.”

American Marco Dawson won the Senior Open at Sunningdale with a final-round six-under 64 to finish one stroke clear of Bernhard Langer and three from Colin Montgomerie.

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