angel hidalgo The first day of the Spanish Golf Open was great, marked by the wind Which he did at Villa de Madrid Country Club, and with 65 strokes (-6) he became the first leader of the championship that Jon Rahm wishes to win for the fourth time, center of attention of numerous attendeesWho finished with 68 (-3).
Hidalgo, 26, is in great form. Three months ago he managed to qualify for the British Open at the ISCO Championship in Nicholasville (Kentucky) with a game he will never forget.He needed an eagle on the last hole and achieved it by holeing the ball from 109 metres.
In Madrid, the Spaniard overcame adverse weather at times due to wind and scored a score of 65 strokes which could have been lower. Holes 16 and 17 produced two bogeys which slowed his progress.
complex pair
His game surprised the great star of the Spanish fans, john rahmWhich was doubtful till the last moment for two reasons. One after missing the finals of the LIV Circuit team competition in Chicago last weekend due to flu and the other due to the birth of her third child, who was expected this week and was born on Tuesday.
The ‘Lion of Barrica’ was paired in his match with Frenchman Mathieu Pavon, who defends the 2023 crown, and Austrian Sepp Straka, who has already won two tournaments on the American circuit. Honda Classic in 2022 and John Deere Classic last year.
Rahm, who had a bogey on hole three, recovered with three birdies on holes four, eight and thirteen. He tripped on the 16th and bogeyed again, but finished with two birdies on the 16th and 17th to the applause of the Spanish fans. Ultimately he finished the tour on 68 strokes (-3), “A number that I would have signed before I started,” he said as he finished.
Rahm was not right /efe
Jon Rahm faces pressure from Angel Hidalgo at Spanish OpenStraka quickly adjusted to the grass and the course and carded 67 strokes (-4), That gave him third place, a much better result than Pavone, who started his title defense with 70 strokes (-1).
Even with 67(-4) Frenchman Julien Guerrier and Englishman Sam Bairstow finished the first day.
Also returning to the country club after winning a silver medal at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, Englishman Tommy Fleetwood got off to a good start in Madrid with a score of 69 strokes (-2), despite the fact that he had two bogeys in both. in the first few holes, which he later corrected with four birdies.
His compatriot Tyrell Hatton had worse luck, Penalized for six bogeys, he finished with 74 strokes (+3), One less than Irishman Shane Lowry, the British Open winner in 2019, who finished with 75 (+4).
Arnaus, fantastic
Who performed at a high level was the Spanish Adri Arnaus, who produced one of his best rounds of the year with a result of 68 strokes (-3).
“Considering the field we played on and the position we are in, With the winds coming from every direction, it was one of the best laps in a long time. Arnaus commented, “I had to handle multiple ball trajectories, leaving me with good options in the nine seconds and remaining very organized and focused at all times.”
Two other young Spaniards, David Puig (22) and Luis Massavu (21), They faced the wind with a good level of play and ended the day at -2.
Jorge Campillo, the second best Spaniard in the world ranking (127) after Jon Rahm, ended his round with 70 strokes (-1) and very positive emotions: “I’m really happy with my game, I hit very good shots, especially Form on the last hole, and I also made several putts.
The Spanish also finished the first day with -1Alfredo García Heredia and Joel Moscatel.
Rahm: ‘I feel better every day’
