Gurugram, March 29 (NationPress) After overcoming a double bogey, Alex Fitzpatrick overtook overnight leader Eugenio Chacarra to secure a two-shot victory, claiming his first title in India at the Indian Open 2026 held in Gurugram on Sunday.

The Indian Open often highlights the underdog. Last year, Chacarra entered the tournament on a sponsor’s invite and won, launching his career.

Despite Chacarra's valiant effort to defend his title, the trophy was destined for another. Fitzpatrick, who arrived in India with aspirations, finished at 9-under 279 (70, 68, 72, 69). He made his way onto the DP World Tour via its feeder circuit, the HotelPlanner Tour in 2024, and has worked tirelessly for this breakthrough.

The Fitzpatrick family's strong golfing legacy has always motivated him. Although there was no expectation for Alex to mirror his older brother Matt Fitzpatrick, a three-time PGA Tour champion, Alex maintained faith that his opportunity on the big stage would eventually arrive.

This week, the key to his success was patience. Even after a double bogey on the 18th, which typically would be detrimental, it did not deter him from finishing strong. A champion was emerging, and the name Fitzpatrick will now resonate globally. For his remarkable performance, Alex received a winner’s purse of US$433,500.

The Fitzpatrick siblings made history by being the first to win on successive weeks on the DP World Tour and PGA Tour. Just the previous Sunday, Matt won the Valspar Championship, and now Alex has followed suit.

On the 18th green, amidst the joyous celebration and his caddie’s heartfelt words, “I am proud of you,” the leading trio, including Chacarra and MJ Daffue, teed off earlier than scheduled to avoid anticipated bad weather.

At that moment, Chacarra enjoyed a four-shot lead, but the change in schedule might have affected his composure. He did not display the same confidence that had him proclaiming himself the best player in the world.

Chacarra had the summit within reach, but he was unable to capitalize on critical moments that might have swayed the outcome in his favor. After a bogey start, he showed resilience, particularly during the back-and-forth battle with Daffue and the response that followed Fitzpatrick’s birdie on the 13th, initiating a final push.

Chacarra responded to maintain his lead, but the contest was reignited when Fitzpatrick, fueled by frustration from earlier bogeys, rallied from behind.

The birdie on the 13th by Chacarra signaled the competitive spirit, and Fitzpatrick acknowledged his rival, indicating he was ready for the challenge.

As they approached the final holes, it became evident that the first to falter would lose. Despite acknowledging his nerves, Fitzpatrick powered through the back nine, tallying five birdies across seven holes to overtake Chacarra.

The pressure of defending his title, coupled with Fitzpatrick’s late surge, proved too much for Chacarra, who dropped three strokes between the 15th and 17th, losing momentum.

Walking down the 18th should have been a moment of celebration, but for Fitzpatrick, thoughts of strategy remained, while Chacarra reflected on missed opportunities.

Normalcy returned as Fitzpatrick faced a six-foot putt for double bogey, keeping a two-shot lead. His successful shot brought joy to his family, with his parents and brother Matt celebrating across continents.

“I hope to build on this momentum,” Fitzpatrick expressed, reflecting on years of hard work and self-doubt leading to this defining moment.

His recent form had been promising, and the relief of accomplishing this victory was evident.

“It can be challenging when you’re pursuing someone else’s achievements, but fortunately, it’s my brother, so it’s not too bad. It feels wonderful to join him as a champion. I look up to him and strive to emulate him. Hopefully, we can both keep succeeding,” he added.

Manoj S. (76-70-76-76) achieved the best finish for Indian players, tying for 43rd place at 10-over 298, alongside Om Prakash Chouhan (73-71-73-81).

Manoj climbed 11 spots on the final day, earning recognition for the best Indian performance due to his superior last round score compared to Chouhan.

Kshitij Naveed Kaul (73-75-77-82) was the third Indian to make the cut, finishing 64th at 19-over 307.

Final scores summary:

Alex Fitzpatrick: 279 (70, 68, 72, 69) US $ 433,500

Eugenio Chacarra: 281 (67, 69, 70, 75) US$ 280,500

MJ Daffue: 283 (71, 67, 72, 73); Andy Sullivan (72, 71, 69, 71); Ugo Coussaud (71, 69, 74, 69) US $ 132,090 each

Ewen Ferguson: 285 (70, 73, 69, 73); Calum Hill: (69, 73, 72, 71); Francesco Molinari: (72, 72, 71, 70) US $ 76,500 each