Pavan pips Fitzpatrick as he motors to second win in BMW International Open

Italian Andrea Pavan, who beat Yorkshire’s Matt Fitzpatrick in a play-off to land the BMW International Open title at Golfclub München Eichenried. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

ANDREA Pavan won his second European Tour title at the BMW International Open, defeating Matt Fitzpatrick in a play-off at Golfclub München Eichenried.

The Italian, who led after the first round in Munich on Thursday, started the final day four strokes behind 54-hole leader Jordan Smith but carded a bogey-free 66 to reach 15-under par, facing a nervous wait as four groups were still to finish their rounds.

Fitzpatrick, who started the day one back, recovered from a birdie on the 17th hole with a birdie on the final hole to force a play-off after a three-under par round of 69.

Nothing separated the pair on the first extra hole, who then went back down the 18th. Fitzpatrick found a greenside bunker with his second stroke and Pavan found trouble in the rough after opting to lay-up.

Pavan struck a marvelous wedge from 135 yards to two feet, with Fitzpatrick chipping on from the bunker and making par after two putts, leaving the Italian with a tap-in for birdie and his second European Tour victory in the space of a year, after his D+D REAL Czech Masters triumph last August.

An emotional Pavan said: It’s amazing to be honest. I thought I had a chance starting the day, and then, you know, you just start well. I was playing very well coming into the week, and then I just hit a few kind of bad drives and it’s always a little bit my Achilles’ heel.

“But I hit a very strong three-wood, a good two-iron, so I know my way around, and you know, the 18th is not the best for me without driver. But I managed to make birdie and it’s been amazing. I can’t thank enough my sponsors, Callaway and Colmar – Callaway, for helping me out, it’s been amazing to help me dial in every time.

“It feels amazing. I still can’t believe it. Obviously it’s been a long day, and just really proud. I’m thankful for my sponsors and my caddie and my coach and my whole team, my family. It’s never easy. But there’s a lot of people that helped me out to get this trophy. So just really thankful.

“This is one of the best events on the European Tour for players, for just everyone. The organisation, it feels like it’s an elevated event. BMW does an amazing job. I saw the picture in the clubhouse of all the winners, and it’s really amazing to be adding my name to this trophy.

“I was in a playoff in qualifying for the US Open (at Walton Heath) with five guys for one spot and I three-putted the first and then you go home with nothing,” Pavan added.

“Here at least the worst you finish is second but it’s very satisfying to get the win, it’s so hard, so difficult.”

Fitzpatrick, who hails from Sheffield’s Hallamshire Golf Club, said: “I’m obviously disappointed. Just one of those things. I had a bit of a look the first play-off hole, but yeah, it’s just been a tough season so far, really – not holing the putts. Missed a chance on 16 there. Didn’t hole it. Holed a 12-footer on 17 in regulation.

“It’s disappointing. I’ve been playing well – that showed coming here, and getting into a playoff, which has been great. It’s a good week overall, but I’m disappointed not to top it off.”

Seven players, including defending champion Matt Wallace and Ryder Cup players Rafa Cabrera Bello and Edoardo Molinari shared third place on 13-under par.

Wiltshire’s Jordan Smith had been the overnight leader after a bogey-free 66 in Saturday’s third round, having played 35 holes in 12-under par without dropping a shot after a bogey at the first hole of his second round, on Friday.

But his bid for a second win in Germany – he claimed the 2017 Porsche European Open at Hamburg’s Green Eagle Golf Courses – but a string of pars after an early dropped shot left him chasing the leaders, including the BMW defending champion Matt Wallace, from Hertfordshire, who needed to birdie the last to make the play-off but found the water and took six.

Smith, who won the Selborne Salver and Hampshire Hog as an amateur before turning pro after playing in the 2013 Walker Cup, said after his third round: “It was a lot better out there. I had control of the ball a lot better than I did yesterday.

“I’ve been driving it great, I don’t think I missed many fairways which is quite key with the greens being fairly firm. They were pretty soft today so you were able to attack the pins. I had the ball under control – a bit of a shame about the two pitches onto 16 and 18 but apart from that it was all good.

“I won in Germany a couple of years ago so I like Germany. I missed my first cut in Denmark a couple of weeks ago but the game was still looking good for that week. It’s been feeling good for a long while.”

A level-par 72 left him two shots behind Pavan in a seven-way tie for third with Wallace, Rafa Cabrera-Bello, Alvaro Quiros, Christiaan Bezuidenhout and Edoardo Molinari, the second Italian in the top 10.

Wiltshire’s Jordan Smith had been hoping for a second win in Germany but could not maintain Saturday’s impressive form. Picture by GETTY IMAGES