Italian Renato Paratore wins the British Masters... final leaderboard

The European Tour made its full return after just over four months in hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic and while the atmosphere was very different with no fans Rene Paratore looked like he had never been away and kept his cool to produce a brilliant display of front running and win his second European Tour title at the 2020 Betfred British Masters hosted by Lee Westwood. 

Final leaderboard https://www.europeantour.com/european-tour/betfred-british-masters-hosted-by-lee-westwood-2020/results?round=4

The Italian entered the final day at Close House Golf Club with a one shot lead was only briefly caught in tough, windy conditions in the north east of England, carding a 69 to finish at 18 under, three shots ahead of Dane Rasmus Højgaard, who closed with a 70.

Paratore lost out in a play-off to Højgaard at the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open earlier this season but never looked like being caught by the 19-year-old as he added to the Nordea Masters title he won in 2017.

Despite being just 23 years old, Paratore was playing in his 159th event and became the second Italian winner of this trophy after Baldovino Dassu in 1976.

"I'm just really, really happy," he said. "I played really solid. I didn't expect to come back and win my second one after lockdown but I worked really hard the last year."

There may not have been any fans to see the triumph but Paratore was greeted by a videocall from his mother and a guard of honour from his fellow players as he walked off the 18th green.

South African Justin Harding finished at 14 under, a shot clear of home trio Robert Rock, Andy Sullivan and Dale Whitnell.