Fitzpatrick seals Open de France win

Ryder Cup star cruises to first DP World Tour title of year

Matt Fitzpatrick claimed the title at Le Golf National. Pic: Adam Davy/PA

Matt Fitzpatrick claimed Open de France glory with a final round of 70 to win by three shots at Le Golf National.

The 32-year-old from Sheffield put himself in pole position on Saturday by matching Seve Ballesteros’ 1985 record for the lowest 54-hole score at continental Europe’s oldest tournament, reaching 19 under ahead of Sunday’s final round.

With a five-shot advantage over home favourite Tom Vaillant, a solid front nine put world number four Fitzpatrick within touching distance of a first DP World Tour title of the season – and an 11th overall – despite a flurry of birdies for Eugenio Lopez-Chacarra.

Any chance of a dramatic finale quickly disappeared with a birdie at the 13th for Fitzpatrick and, even though another on 15th was followed by a bogey to close, the 2022 US Open champion was able to toast a special victory in Paris.

Spain’s Angel Hidalgo ended up as Fitzpatrick’s nearest challenger after carding 67 to finish on 17 under, with Vaillant one of four players tied for third on 15 under alongside Lopez-Chacarra.

This was Fitzpatrick’s fourth tournament victory of 2026, having triumphed on the PGA Tour at the Valspar Championship, RBC Heritage and Zurich Classic of New Orleans.

Meanwhile, Sara Byrne had a final round of three-under 69 to finish in a tie for 23rd at the Buccellati Ladies Italian Open on the Ladies European Tour. Byrne's bogey free round moved her up to 59th in the rankings as the tour next heads to Korea.

South Africa’s Casandra Alexander secured her third Ladies European Tour title and second in the space of a month after producing a superb final-round display to win at Golf Club Milano.

The 27-year-old from Johannesburg, who won the Women's Irish Open last month, carded a closing 69 (-3) to finish on 12-under-par, three shots clear of Germany’s Sophie Hausmann and American rookie Anna Morgan.