Tag Archives: Spanish Open

Angel Hidalgo Outlasts Jon Rahm to Win Spanish Open Title

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Angel Hidalgo has earned his first European tour victory.

The 26-year-old Spanish professional golfer birdied the second playoff hole to beat Jon Rahm and win the Spanish Open on Sunday.

Angel HidalgoHidalgo had missed a short birdie putt at the same 18th hole to allow fellow Spaniard Rahm into the playoff, giving the two-time major champion a chance to become the first player to win four Spanish Open titles.

Rahm had birdied the final two holes of his round at the Club de Campo Villa de Madrid.

“Insane, absolutely insane,” Hidalgo said. “It was weird because I was pretty relaxed all day, even when I missed this short putt on Hole 72.”

After Hidalgo pushed his putt wide, the players were back on the 18th for the first playoff hole. Rahm went over the green with his drive, chipped close and rolled in his birdie putt. Hidalgo did not miss his short attempt for birdie this time.

Back on the 18th, Hidalgo just missed the green and Rahm went left. Rahm had a poor chip and went over the green, while Hidalgo put it close again and drained the putt to take his first victory.

Hidalgo, who had never finished in the top three in 79 previous European tour events, came into the final round with a two-shot lead over Rahm. Hidalgo shot a 1-under 70 after making three bogeys in his first six holes for a 14-under 270 overall.

Rahm, the former No. 1, finished with a 3-under 68 and seven birdies, including three of his final five holes. He also had two bogeys and a double bogey.

He had trailed by five shots heading into Saturday. He arrived late in the Spanish capital after the birth of his third child.

Rahm won the LIV individual title and was back in Europe to try to reach the minimum of four European tour starts required to be considered for the Ryder Cup next year. He’s being allowed to play after appealing the European tour sanctions against him for playing the LIV circuit.

Rafa Cabrera Bello Outlasts Adri Arnaus to Claim Spanish Open

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Rafa Cabrera Bello is finally back on top…

The 37-year-old Spanish professional golfer sank a birdie putt on the first playoff hole to seal a dramatic victory on Sunday over compatriot Adri Arnaus, giving him his first tournament win in over four years at the Spanish Open.

Rafa Cabrera Bello

Cabrero Bello and Arnaus were neck and neck for much of the day and ended it at 19-under for the tournament. Cabrera Bello then held his nerve after a fine approach shot on the first playoff hole — the par-four 18th — to make birdie as Arnaus could only manage par.

Frenchman Julien Guerrier, India’s Shubhankar Sharma and Scot Grant Forrest were all two shots back at 17-under, finishing tied for third.

World No. 1 and home favorite Jon Rahm, who was chasing a hat trick of titles at the event, endured another frustrating day as he carded a two-under 69 and 13-under overall that gave him a share of 17th place.

Cabrera Bello, the overnight leader, began the round with a double-bogey on the par-four first but found his touch on the back nine, making three straight birdies starting with the 13th that gave him a two-under 69.

Arnaus, on the other hand, made eagle on the 14th but could only par his last four holes to end with a round of 67.

The title was Cabrera Bello’s fourth overall on the European Tour while it left Arnaus still searching for his maiden win.

Jon Rahm Named the 2019 European Tour Golfer of the Year

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Jon Rahm is the man of the hour…

The 25-year-old Spanish professional golfer has been named the 2019 European Tour Golfer of the Year.

Jon Rahm

Rahm finished the year as the No. 1-ranked player on the Euro Tourwith victories at the Irish Open, Spanish Open and the World Tour Championshipin Dubai.

He finished second at the BMW PGA Championship and Andalucia Masters.

In the United States, Rahm finished tied for ninth at The Masters and tied for third at the U.S. Open.

Rahm was selected by a panel of golf media. Ireland’s Shane Lowry, who won The Open, finished second in the voting.

Rahm joins Seve Ballesteros (1986, 88, 91) and Sergio Garcia (2017) as the third Spaniard to receive the European Tour’s Golfer of the Year award.

Jon Rahm Wins Spanish Open for Second Year in a Row

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Jon Rahm is making Spanish golf history…

The 24-year-old Spanish professional golfer won the Spanish Open for a second consecutive year on Sunday, beating Seve Ballesteros‘ record for the fastest Spaniard to reach five European Tour wins.

Jon Rahm

Golfing great Ballesteros needed 49 events to get five wins on the tour. Rahm did so in 39 tournaments after shooting a five-under 66 on the final round to finish 22 under and win by five strokes.

“In front of a home crowd, it’s always really hard for me to keep everything under control and to play the weekend that I did for them,” Rahm said.

“I can’t wait to come back next year and hopefully do it three times. It was unlike anything else. Spanish crowds love golf, they love us coming back. It’s hard to believe how many people come out here.”

Rafa Cabrera Bello (66) was second, followed by another Spaniard, Samuel del Val (68), who was seven strokes back at the Club de Campo Villa.

Starting with a commanding five-shot lead, Rahm had an eagle and four birdies to go with one bogey on the final day.

Rahm shot an eight-under 63 on Saturday to match the course record.

Jon Rahm Wins Hero World Challenge Title

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Jon Rahm is Hero…

The 24-year-old Spanish professional golferturned a potential shootout into a Bahamas breeze Sunday, closing with a 7-under 65 for a four-shot victory in the Hero World Challenge.

Jon Rahm

Starting the final round in a three-way tie with Tony Finau and Henrik Stenson, Rahm took the lead when Finau made bogey on the par-3 eighth hole, and the Spaniard never trailed the rest of the day at Albany Golf Club.

Finau was the last challenger until the 14th hole, when he went from a sandy area to a bunker and over the green, leading to double bogey. Rahm made birdie on the hole, and suddenly had a five-shot lead without much trouble to get in the way.

Rahm ends his year with three victories, just like in 2017, his first full year as a pro.

Even with his individual trophies, no moment for Rahm will top facing Tiger Woods in the Sunday singles at the Ryder Cup and beating him on the 17th hole, putting the first point on the board for Europe that day. And then Rahm ended his year with Woods handing him the trophy from his holiday event.

“That Sunday with Tiger is still the most emotionally, most important moment of my golf career,” Rahm said. “It means so much to play against Tiger. A couple months later, to win his event, it’s really special.”

Rahm  previously won the CareerBuilder Challenge on the PGA Tour and the Spanish Open on the European Tour.