Golf Glory: Fitzpatrick triumphs in Hero Indian Open after stunning comeback

Alex Fitzpatrick staged a thrilling comeback on Sunday, overcoming a four-shot deficit to claim his first DP World Tour title at the Hero Indian Open . Entering the 18th green with a comfortable lead over defending champion Eugenio Chacarra , Fitzpatrick double-bogeyed the final hole but still won by two strokes .

The English golfer , who turned professional in 2022, has a long-standing rivalry with Chacarra dating back to their amateur days. Last year, Chacarra won the Hero Indian Open, while Fitzpatrick finished tied 17th .

Fitzpatrick received the trophy from Dr. Pawan Munjal , Executive Director of Hero MotoCorp, along with a $433,500 prize cheque . He also earned 585 points , moving to sixth place in the Race to Dubai (R2D) standings. A Top-10 finish in R2D could secure him a PGA Tour card , joining his elder brother, Matthew Fitzpatrick , who won the Valspar Championship a week earlier.

Reflecting on his win, Fitzpatrick said, “I feel ecstatic, super proud of myself just for the battle out there… I’m lucky to have someone with so much knowledge and experience just a call away.”

Fitzpatrick shot 3-under 69 on the final day to finish 9-under for the week (70-68-72-69), while Chacarra faltered with six bogeys , including four on the back nine, ending at 7-under .

Only three Indian golfers made the cut: Om Prakash Chouhan (T-43), S Manoj (T-43), and Kshitij Naved Kaul (T-82). MJ Daffue, Ugo Coussaud, and Andy Sullivan tied for third at 5-under .

The final day was a rollercoaster . Fitzpatrick, despite early bogeys, birdied five of the closing holes as Chacarra collapsed with three consecutive bogeys, handing Fitzpatrick a dramatic victory .

With this win, Fitzpatrick not only cements his rising reputation but also continues the Fitzpatrick brothers’ legacy on the global golfing stage.