Matt Fitzpatrick capped off a stellar season with a commanding three‑stroke win at the FedEx Open de France, held at Le Golf National, marking his fourth worldwide triumph of the year. The world number four entered the final round with a comfortable five‑stroke cushion and never looked back, posting a solid 70 that featured two birdies and a single bogey, thereby clinching his 11th DP World Tour title.
Finishing the tournament at 20 under par, Fitzpatrick stayed well ahead of his nearest rival, Spain's Angel Hidalgo, who rallied late with three birdies in his last five holes to finish on a 67. Eugenio Chacarra also stayed within striking distance, sharing third place five strokes behind the leader. Chacarra's strong performance helped him close the gap on Race to Dubai front‑runners Patrick Reed and Rory McIlroy, while Tom Vaillant, Matthieu Pavon and Ryder Cup hopeful Kristoffer Reitan were also tied on 15 under. Earlier in the season, Fitzpatrick had already claimed three PGA Tour victories – the Valspar Championship, the RBC Heritage, and the Zurich Classic of New Orleans – making his French triumph his first DP World Tour win since the season‑ending DP World Tour Championship in November.
His overnight lead was briefly threatened when Chacarra, playing ahead, rattled off three birdies in his first four holes and added another from 12 feet on the par‑four sixth. However, a three‑putt bogey on the eighth hole was quickly offset by a birdie on the subsequent par‑five, leaving Chacarra just two shots off Fitzpatrick's total after the Englishman made par on every front‑nine hole.
Reitan also surged into contention, narrowing the gap to three strokes after a blistering 33 on the front nine and a birdie on the par‑five 14th. Unfortunately for the Norwegian, two bogeys on the next three holes derailed his momentum. Chacarra's bid for the title was further hampered when an errant tee shot on the 13th forced a drop, and his third shot found water, resulting in a costly double‑bogey after he managed to scramble out of the hazard.
Fitzpatrick re‑asserted his dominance on the back nine. An aggressive approach on the 13th landed within kicking‑in range, and a 20‑foot putt on the 15th rolled in for birdie, pushing his score to 21 under and extending his lead to five strokes.
He then played a series of stress‑free pars on the 16th and 17th, preserving his advantage heading into the final par‑four. A missed up‑and‑down left him with a bogey on the 18th, but the one‑stroke penalty was enough to seal the victory. "I'm obviously delighted to get over the line," Fitzpatrick said in the post‑round interview.
"It was definitely a battle today. I didn’t have my best stuff for the first 12 holes, but I managed to find some of my best golf later on. Golf is a game of many skills, and I used them all this week.
Coming down the stretch, hitting the shots I did and sinking the putts was special." Hidalgo's runner‑up finish earned him a place in next summer's Open at St Andrews via the Open Qualifying Series, while Fitzpatrick already holds an exemption. Vaillant vaulted into a tie for third after holing a 20‑foot birdie on the final hole.
First‑round leader Michael Kim finished tied for seventh alongside Guido Migliozzi and Brandon Stone, and Ludvig Åberg moved into a tie for 11th after posting a five‑under 66 on the final day. The DP World Tour now shifts north to Scotland for the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, a unique event played across Carnoustie, Kingsbarns Golf Links, and the historic Old Course at St Andrews, where defending champion Robert MacIntyre will look to retain his title.
Live coverage of the French Open begins Thursday at midday on Sky Sports Golf, with streaming options available on NOW without a contract. Golf enthusiasts can also explore discounted rates and book tee times at any of the 1,700 courses throughout the UK and Ireland by entering a course name, city, or postal code on the booking platform. Overall, Fitzpatrick's performance in France underscores his consistency and versatility across both the PGA and DP World Tours. His ability to bounce back after a shaky start, coupled with a calm finishing stretch, highlights the mental toughness that has become a hallmark of his game.
As the season progresses, all eyes will be on him to see if he can continue this remarkable run and add more titles to an already impressive résumé.