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Robert MacIntyre beats Matt Fitzpatrick in playoff to win Italian Open

MacIntyre beats Fitzpatrick in playoff to win Italian Open
© Reuters
Scotland's Robert MacIntyre beats Matthew Fitzpatrick in a playoff to win the Italian Open at next year's Ryder Cup venue.

Robert MacIntyre has won the second DP World Tour title of his career with victory at the Italian Open, beating Matthew Fitzpatrick in a playoff.

The Scot went into the final round occupying a spot in the top 10 with numerous high-profile names looking to prevail at next year's Ryder Cup venue.

However, the left-hander produced one of the rounds of his career ahead of the leaders, firing in 10 birdies to post a 64 on Sunday.

In response to bogeys at 14 and 15, MacIntyre recorded birdies at 16 and 18 to set 14-under-par, keeping the pressure on the players in the group behind.

Fitzpatrick had appeared to be the favourite to get over the line until a bogey on the 17th led to him needing a birdie on the last to force a playoff.

Nevertheless, that was ultimately decided by a wayward Fitzpatrick tee shot at the first extra hole, the US Open champion appearing to be distracted by a camera.

Although Fitzpatrick left himself a makeable birdie from approximately 12 feet, he pulled it agonisingly to the left, leaving MacIntyre to hole out from two feet to seal the biggest success of his career.

Victor Perez and Rory McIlroy were the nearest challengers to the top two, the former missing from six feet to lose out on joining the two British players in the playoff.

McIlroy's charge was effectively halted when he sent his tee shot on 16 into the water, the Northern Irishman only able to make bogey.

While Perez finished one shot adrift of MacIntyre and Fitzpatrick, McIlroy was two shots back in fourth, with Lucas Herbert and Aaron Rai claiming a share of fifth spot.

Tyrrell Hatton earned eighth place, Alex Fitzpatrick - the brother of Matt - was 28th, and Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald and likely pick Viktor Hovland were in 34th position.

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Written by
Darren Plant

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