Penge Conquers the Spanish Open: Masters and Open in Sight

Marco Penge Crowned Champion of the Spanish Open and Secures a Place in the Masters

In an exciting golf day, Marco Penge, from England, won the Spanish Open after defeating his compatriot Daniel Brown in a playoff. This triumph grants him a place in the prestigious Masters and the Open Championship next year. Penge, who had maintained a four-stroke lead, finally secured the victory with a birdie on the first playoff hole, thus adding his third European Tour title so far this year.

Dan and Joel Girrbach played really well today. They were holing putts, and I just couldn’t get it in the hole. I felt like I was really up against it. But I felt like I managed it really well, and I actually think tee to green, I feel like I played really solid. Never mind the putts; I think I used them all yesterday, but obviously holing that one there was worth the wait.

Marco Penge

This edition of the national tournament was the first to offer the winner an automatic spot for the Masters and The Open. Penge, visibly excited when talking about his participation in the Masters, expressed: “It’s crazy. It’s a golf course I’ve always wanted to play on, because I feel like my game suits it very well.” Penge, who finished with a 72 (+1) on Sunday, tied with Brown at 15 under par for the tournament. Brown, who celebrated his 31st birthday on Saturday, started the day five strokes behind, but managed to come back with a final round of 67 (-4). Despite dealing with a right shoulder ailment that required treatment during the last nine holes, Brown forced a tie with a birdie on the final hole. The 27-year-old golfer, Penge, also triumphed at the Danish Golf Championship and the Hainan Classic. Girrbach (69) started the day four strokes behind. The Swiss player finished in third place with 14 under par for the tournament. The local favorite, Jon Rahm, who was seeking his fourth title at the Spanish Open, was not in contention at the start of the final round, but closed with a 65 (-6) to finish in a tie for ninth place. Shane Lowry, who, like Rahm, returned to action after helping Europe win the Ryder Cup last month in New York, failed to make the cut at the Club de Campo Villa de Madrid, in the Spanish capital.