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Matthew Fitzpatrick passes the Valderrama test and wins the Andalucia Masters

The Englishman overcame his Ryder Cup heartbreak in his first event since Europe’s record-breaking defeat as he claimed a three-shot victory at the Andalucia Masters.

Matthew Fitzpatrick has not enjoyed the Ryder Cup.

In fact, he made it two Ryder Cup appearances without a point as Europe were defeated 19-9 at Whistling Straits, losing his singles match from one up with three to play to ensure the United States won by a record margin.
However he showed no ill effects after a two-week break, carding a closing bogey-free 69 to finish at six under and defeat the challenge of Swede Sebastian Soderberg and Australia's Min Woo Lee.

Fitzpatrick started the day three shots off the lead but 15 consecutive pars were enough to edge him closer to the top of the leaderboard at the notoriously difficult 1997 Ryder Cup venue.

Soberberg had made a big move through the field, picking up four shots in his first four holes with the help of an eagle on the fourth and led by two at six under with two to play.
He stood on the 17th tee with a two shot lead, but was one behind when he played his drive from the next hole, the consequence of his own double bogey and a first birdie of the day for the patient Fitzpatrick.
He then two-putted from over the back of the par-five 17th for a second birdie in a row and, with Soderberg also bogeying the last in a closing 70, it was a seventh win in as many seasons on the European Tour for the man from Sheffield.
"Winning around Valderrama is something you want to tick off on the bucket list," he said. "To do it in the way that I did, with no bogeys in the final round was extra special.
"I felt if I could hang in there, hang around and pick up a couple of birdies if possible, pars were never a bad thing, and that's what I did.
"You can hit half decent shots and be behind a tree and you're chipping out or you've got to manoeuvre something, it's a true test and to be patient the whole 72 holes, I'm really pleased with the way my attitude was all week."
Lee carded a 70 to share second with Soderberg, a shot clear of a group containing Englishmen Laurie Canter, James Morrison and Robert Rock.
The Englishman will head to the season's finale, the DP World Tour Championship, confident of winning it for a third time.

But in the longer term he will be looking to just contend in (never mind win) a Major.

The Sky Sports commentary team gushed about his ability to play difficult golf courses after this win, but one Major Championship top 10 in 26 starts tells a different story (and even that came courtesy of a fast finish on Sunday).

READ MORE: Rory McIlroy's 20 PGA Tour wins: From the breakthrough in 2010 to THE CJ CUP last week

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