Angel Hidalgo held off three-time champion Jon Rahm in a play-off to win the 2024 acciona Open de España offered by Madrid.
The pair had gone head-to-head in an all-Spanish last group with David Puig, with Rahm’s birdie-birdie end leaving them tied at 14 underneath par.
Each gamers birdied the primary further gap however after Rahm’s chip slipped previous the second time, Hidalgo holed a two-foot putt for victory to say his maiden DP World Tour title.
It was the primary all-Spanish last group on the nationwide open since 2019, when Rahm gained comfortably forward of Rafa Cabrera Bello and Samuel Del Val.
It was nearer this time, proper from the off as Hidalgo’s two-shot in a single day benefit was worn out on the first gap – he missed a three-foot putt and made bogey whereas Rahm, additionally champion in 2018 and 2022, began with a birdie, as did Puig to lie one shot behind.
Because the lead modified fingers between the trio all through the spherical, it was Rahm’s 19-foot putt for birdie on the seventeenth which minimize Hidalgo’s result in one and Rahm’s birdie the final, as Hidalgo’s putt stayed proper of the outlet to arrange a play-off.
Puig completed in a big group at 10 underneath with Swede Jens Fahrbring, English pair Tommy Fleetwood and Joe Dean, Scotland’s Grant Forrest – who shot 64 on Sunday – and American Sean Crocker.
South Africa’s Jayden Schaper was on his personal in ninth at 9 underneath with Alfredo Garcia-Heredia, Patrick Reed and Tyrrell Hatton sharing tenth.
“Two or three years in the past, I used to be within the first tee, within the timber, supporting Jon – with out enjoying,” Hidalgo mentioned.
“I simply come right here to Madrid to see the match. To be right here and win the match is unreal. Oh, my gosh, it is superb.
“I used to be fairly relaxed all day, even the primary tee, I do not know why. Even after I missed the quick putt (on the first) – or this one, gap 72 – I used to be not discouraged.
“On the eighth tee, I assumed David Puig goes to win the match by eight as a result of he was hitting superb, and Jon and myself made just a few errors.
“That is superb. That is for everybody that was there and believed in me, and yeah, my staff, my household, particularly my caddie, he is my finest buddy. I referred to as him final 12 months, I used to be struggling somewhat, and I referred to as him and he stopped enjoying to hold my bag.
“And my grandpa yesterday was 80 years – nicely, he handed away just a few years in the past, however yesterday was his birthday. My finest buddy Paco and coach Jordi and my dad and mom travelled this morning by prepare to be right here for the match. I want my brother was right here however I’ll make a video name now – in all probability he cries greater than me, understanding him.”
Rahm mentioned: “Could he (Angel) get pleasure from it. Successful at residence, successful a Spanish Open with all of the assist that there was. You may inform how a lot he felt it and the way essential it was for him. Could he be taught from these moments and luxuriate in them.
“Considering that on Tuesday morning I used to be nonetheless within the hospital in a foreign country, on the opposite facet of the Atlantic, in the long run, I’m joyful. It is a pity to have misplaced within the play-off and never have been in a position to do higher at present. I am unable to say it has been a foul week. I gave myself an opportunity to win, which is what I wished. I gave it my all till the top, and I am pleased with myself. “What occurred at present helps (for Spanish golf). Having a last like this, regardless of who wins, helps these children who had been watching right here or on TV to need to strive enjoying golf to expertise moments like at present’s.”
In the meantime, Shane Lowry’s closing two-under 69 for a share of thirteenth gave him his fifth top-20 end in a row and his twelfth from 24 particular person begins this season.
Whereas he gained the Zurich Traditional of New Orleans in partnership with Rory McIlroy in April, he could have one other probability to win as a person for the primary time for the reason that 2022 BMW PGA when he joins Rory McIlroy, Pádraig Harrington and Tom McKibbin on this week’s Alfred Dunhill Hyperlinks Championship in Scotland.
On the Problem Tour, Conor Purcell closed with a two-over 74 to tie for twelfth on two-under within the weather-reduced, 36-hole Swiss Problem, seven pictures behind Scotland’s Euan Walker.
In consequence, the Portmarnock man fell one spot to eleventh within the Highway to Mallorca standings which is able to see the highest 20 awarded DP World Tour playing cards after the Rolex Problem Tour Grand Last supported by the R&A on November 3.
On the LPGA Tour, Leona Maguire’s bogey-free, five-under 66 left her tied for thirty seventh on seven underneath within the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship.
She completed ten strokes outdoors a playoff that noticed Jasmine Suwannapura earn her third profession profession victory after making an eagle on the second further gap to beat Lucy Li.
