Fitzpatrick secures three-shot win at French Open

by · The42

LAST UPDATE | 1 hr ago

ENGLAND’S MATT FITZPATRICK secured his fourth victory of the year with a dominant three-shot win in the French Open at Le Golf National on Sunday.

The world number four took a five-shot lead into the final round and a battling, one-under-par 70 ensured he finished clear of runner-up Angel Hidalgo.

Fitzpatrick had already won the Valspar Championship and RBC Heritage titles on the PGA Tour in North America earlier in 2026, as well as the New Orleans team event alongside younger brother Alex.

On Sunday, Fitzpatrick’s lead was quickly cut to just two shots as he struggled to find his rhythm, but he scrambled well to record 12 successive pars from the start of his round.

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Birdies on the 13th and 15th holes ended any hope for the chasing pack and the former US Open champion ended the week on 20-under-par overall.

“Delighted to get it over the line, it was definitely a battle today,” said the 32-year-old after his 11th career European Tour title.

“I didn’t have my best stuff for the first 12 holes and then managed to find some of my best stuff . . .

“It’s right up there, just felt fantastic with the short stuff today in particular.

“In a way I was quite lucky, I left myself in some nice spots where you can still get up and down from, but I fully took advantage of that and did really well.”

World number 318 Hidalgo shot a five-under 67 to finish second, two strokes clear of a group of four players – home hopes Matthieu Pavon and Tom Vaillant, Spain’s Eugenio Chacarra and in-form Norwegian Kristoffer Reitan.

Meanwhile on the LPGA, Lauren Walsh is in a share of 57th place heading into the final round at the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship. Walsh carded a second round of 68 to leave her 12 shots off the leader Yuna Nishimura of Japan.

Leona Maguire and Stephanie Meadow both missed the cut.

On the Ladies European Tour, Ireland’s Sara Byrne finished in a tie for 23rd on two-under after carding a 69 in her final round of the Ladies Italian Open.

South African Casandra Alexander was the winner on 12-under. 

Olivia Mehaffey, Áine Donegan, Annabel Wilson and Anna Foster all missed the cut.