Eugenio Lopez-Chacarra Wins Indian Open to Claim First European Tour Title

Posted on March 31, 2025 by Tom Castaneda

Eugenio Lopez-Chacarra is celebrating his first European tour title…

The 25-year-old Spanish golfer and former LIV Golf player overcame a slow start to win the Indian Open for his first European tour title on Sunday.

Lopez-Chacarra shot a 1-under 71 in the final round to finish at 4 under and clinch the victory in his ninth tournament on the European tour.

He ended up two shots ahead of Keita Nakajima, who shot an even-par 72 in the final round.

Lopez-Chacarra, who was playing on a tournament invitation, won in his fifth LIV start but was left off the Fireballs roster for the 2025 season by fellow Spaniard Sergio Garcia.

“I’m very grateful for that opportunity,” he said, thanking organizers for the invitation. “You guys probably changed my life from today so thanks for that.”

Lopez-Chacarra came into the final round at the DLF Golf and Country Club with a one-shot lead but started with a double bogey on the first hole and a bogey on the third to go back to level-par for the week. He bounced back with five birdies in nine holes to retake the lead, which he kept despite a bogey on the 17th.

“It was a tough day, we knew it was going to be a long day with a lot of pressure and obviously not having the start I really wanted to,” he said. “I know when I play my best I’m one of the best players in the world, I’ve already proved that a million times.”

Alejandro del Rey Wins Ras Al Khaimah Championship to Earn First-Ever European Tour Title

Posted on January 26, 2025 by Tom Castaneda

Alejandro del Rey has earned his first European tour title.

The 26-year-old Spanish golfer earned the title in impressive fashion by shooting a third straight 6-under 66 to win the Ras Al Khaimah Championship by four strokes on Sunday.

Del Rey, ranked No. 308, finished the week at 22-under par to take victory in his 70th start on the tour.

After holing a putt on No. 18 for a fifth straight par to close his final round, Del Rey was covered in water after several of his countrymen ran onto the green.

His last top-10 finish was in March at the Singapore Classic, where he tied for seventh.

“I got to a point last year where I just felt like I wasn’t having that much fun on the golf course because for me, playing for 20th, 30th place wasn’t that meaningful at that point,” said Del Rey. “I just worked really hard since then because I just didn’t want to be in that position much longer. And I feel like I’ve played many years with a lot of friends that have won out here, and I knew I could do it but it just wasn’t showing up.”

Del Rey was bogey-free over the weekend at Al Hamra Golf Club.

He started the final round with a two-shot lead, stretched it to five shots with birdies at Nos. 1, 2 and 5, and was even six clear after three straight birdies from No. 11. He then parred his way home to easily hold off second-place Marcus Armitage, the leader after the first two rounds.

Armitage of England (68) was 18 under for the week, and David Puig (65) of Spain was third at 15 under.

“I’m just grateful and I’m very happy that this finally came,” Del Rey said. “I’ve always felt about myself that I’m a great closer of golf tournaments. It just felt great today, felt very natural and very easy.”

Angel Hidalgo Outlasts Jon Rahm to Win Spanish Open Title

Posted on September 29, 2024 by Tom Castaneda

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.

Hidalgo 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.

Pablo Larrazabal Claims Seventh European Tour Title, First on Home Soil, ISPS Handa Championship

Posted on April 25, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

It’s Lucky No. 7 for Pablo Larrazabal…

The 38-year-old Spanish professional golfer shot 8-under 62 on Sunday to win the ISPS Handa Championship to claim his seventh European tour title — and first on home soil.

Larrazabal made nine birdies and a bogey at the Lakes Course to secure a one-shot victory over countryman Adrian Otaegui (66).

“What a day. But I knew that my golf was there,” Larrazabal said. “I couldn’t make any putts the first three days but I told my girlfriend last night that she had to choose my clothing for the [winning] pictures.

“I knew that I had a low one in my bag and that’s what I did. Today I holed putts and that was key. I mean, to shoot 62 in windy conditions with the flags out there, it was good.”

Larrazabal finished with a 15-under 265 total. His first title of the year was at the MyGolfLife Open in South Africa.

South Africa’s Hennie Du Plessis and Canadian Aaron Cockerill both shot 67s and tied for third, two shots behind Larrazabal.

Bad weather in northeast Spain had forced organizers to suspend the third round on Saturday with Scott Jamieson at the top. Jamieson shot even par to finish in a tie for 10th, eight shots off the lead.

The ISPS Handa Championship is the first of four consecutive events in Europe between the season’s first two majors.

The European tour stays in Spain next week for the Catalunya Championship. The two new events in Spain were added to the schedule to replace tournaments in Japan and China due to travel restrictions because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Miguel Angel Jimenez Hits Two Holes-In-One to Win Cologuard Classic

Posted on February 28, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Miguel Angel Jimenez is celebrating a big win…

The 58-year-old Spanish golfer had his second hole-in-one of the tournament and closed with a 7-under 65 on Sunday to win the Cologuard Classic.

Jimenez started the final round with a two-shot lead and got off to a birdie-eagle start at Tucson National. Reigning Charles Schwab Cup champion Bernhard Langer cut the lead to three with a birdie on the par-5 12th, but Jimenez followed with one of his own in the group behind.

Jimenez ended any hope of a late rally with an ace on the 186-yard par-3 14th to match the one he had at No. 7 in the opening round. Jimenez closed with four straight pars to finish at 18-under 198 and win for the second time in three PGA Tour Champions starts this season.

Langer shot 65 to match Woody Austin (66) at 14 under. Jerry Kelly finished fourth after a 70 put him at 11 under.

Jimenez won the season-opening Mitsubishi Electric Championship in Hawaii and was fifth last week at the Chubb Classic in Florida. He opened the Cologuard Classic with a 66, thanks in part to his ace, and overcame two closing errant drives to shoot 67 in the second round.

Jimenez shot 4-under 32 on the front nine in his final round and bounced back from a bogey on the par-4 ninth — he hit behind a trailer left of the fairway — by getting up and down for birdie just short of the par-5 12th.

The European Tour record holder with 10 aces, Jimenez wowed the crowd with his hole-in-one at No. 14. He celebrated by raising his arms and doing a little shimmy, then walked arm-in-arm with Kelly onto the green.

Tim Petrovic had two aces in last year’s Cologuard Classic.

Jimenez closed with an easy two-putt par for his 12th PGA Tour Champions win.

Jon Rahm Named the 2019 European Tour Golfer of the Year

Posted on December 4, 2019 by Tom Castaneda

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.

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.

Pablo Larrazabal Wins Alfred Dunhill Championship in Dramatic Fashion

Posted on December 2, 2019 by Tom Castaneda

Pablo Larrazabal has pulled off a big win…

The 36-year-old Spanish golfer won the European Tour’s season-opening Alfred Dunhill Championship on Sunday after losing a three-shot overnight lead and then making three birdies on his last four holes for a dramatic one-stroke victory.

Larrazabal birdied the par-5 No. 18 as he finished 8 under overall and just ahead of Sweden’s Joel Sjoholm.

Larrazabal said he struggled with blisters on his feet throughout the final round, when he fell three shots behind at one point. He made a litany of errors and closed with a 75 after six bogeys and a double bogey, but his rousing finale still enabled him to clinch a fifth European Tour title and first in four years.

“I woke up this morning and I didn’t think I was going to play,” Larrazabal said. “I couldn’t put my shoe on, I couldn’t walk to the buggy. I really struggled on the back nine. I have a big blister on my right toe and I said to myself ‘If Tiger [Woods] can win a U.S. Open with a broken leg’ and I just fought hard.”

Larrazabal’s victory at Leopard Creek Country Club came at the event where he began his professional career 12 years ago.

Charl Schwartzel (70) finished tied for third at 6 under on his return to tournament action for the first time in eight months because of a wrist injury. Branden Grace (73) and Wil Besseling (74) were also in that tie for third.

Besseling led or held a share of the lead through much of the final round but he made bogey on the last after his approach flew too far and landed among some rocks behind the green.

That opened the way for Larrazabal to win it on the last. He laid up with his second and then fired his third shot in close to tap in for birdie and the win.

Jon Rahm Wins Spanish Open for Second Year in a Row

Posted on October 7, 2019 by Tom Castaneda

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.

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.

Jorge Campillo Wins First-Ever European Tour Ritle at the Hassan II Golf Trophy

Posted on April 29, 2019 by Tom Castaneda

Jorge Campillois finally a champion…

The 32-year-old Spanish professional golfer birdied two of his last three holes to claim a maiden success on the European Tour with a two-shot victory in the Hassan II Golf Trophy at the Royal Golf Dar Es Salam in Rabat on Sunday.

Campillo, who had six runner-up finishes before finally claiming a win in his 229th appearance on the tour, finished with a 71 for a total of nine under-par.

“It’s great, it’s been a long while. I was on top of my game today, so I’m proud of that,” he told reporters.

“It was tough, I had to have my A-game. I was missing shots off the tee, but I managed to recover. I’m proud of the way I finished, I finished like a champion I guess.

“It has taken me a while [to win a trophy], but it is all worth it now.”

Campillo started his final round a shot off the pace but after bogeys on the second and third holes, looked to have blown his chances in a tournament that has seen birdies hard to come by.

But after clawing back those two shots, birdies on the 16th and 17th saw him push to the front and despite a nervous tee shot on the 18th that missed the fairway, he recovered for a par.

South African Erik van Rooyen was the overnight leader going into the final round but could only manage a 74 to finish tied second with Americans Julian Suri (71) and Sean Crocker (72).

Jon Rahm Wins Hero World Challenge Title

Posted on December 10, 2018 by Tom Castaneda

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.

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.

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