Marbella’s Ángel Hidalgo added this Sunday at the Villa de Madrid Country Club his first DP World Tour title, the European Golf Circuit, by winning the Acciona Open of Spain on a Sunday of authentic passion that the fan will never forget. The title was decided in a playoff between the Marbella native and Jon Rahm, who fell on the former’s side against the odds. The Basque had never lost a tiebreaker on the European Tour.
With only two top tens all year, Hidalgo knew how to keep a cool head on the last day of the tournament, with all the pressure on his shoulders, suffering the attack of David Puig, first, and that of Jon Rahm (big words), in the end, with whom he shared a match on an absolutely exciting last day of competition.
Thrilling
After the 7th hole was finished, Puig dominated with an iron fist but in the end it was Hidalgo and Rahm who played it out in the playoff
After finishing the seventh hole, David Puig had turned the standings around and was leading the tournament with three strokes ahead of Hidalgo and four over Rahm after a start back to frame.
From then on, the tournament went crazy and strong emotions were experienced at every hole. Hidalgo finally landed, found serenity after some initial bogeys, and started paddling. He didn’t want it to escape. Rahm seemed out but Rahm is Rahm because he is always on the lookout and he also found a way to make birdies.
The Basque even recovered from an ugly double bogey on the 13th and with a brilliant birdie on the par-3 17th, he came out on the last hole just one stroke behind Hidalgo, who still showed no cracks. Puig, by then, had already thrown in the towel, a shame after some first holes that left their mark.
The 18th hole at the Country Club is a short par 4, which can be reached with a drive. Both Hidalgo and Rahm left their ball in the rough, but a few meters from the green. The man from Malaga ended up having a putt of just over a meter to win the tournament but he missed it, what a sport it is, golf, and the champion was decided in the playoff.
Curiously, the tiebreaker seemed fertile ground for Rahm to end up imposing his law, taking advantage of his rival’s lack of experience. But Hidalgo, after the suffering of the 18th, was seen enjoying the playoff from the beginning, supported by the public. Both players made birdies on the first hole of the playoff but on the second – on both occasions the 18th was played – Rahm had to settle for par and this time Hidalgo did not fail, making a birdie for the ages.
