Marco Penge Wins Spanish Open and Secures a Place in the Masters
English golfer Marco Penge defeated compatriot Daniel Brown in an exciting playoff to win the Spanish Open on Sunday. This victory secures him a place in the prestigious Masters and the Open Championship next year. Penge, who had maintained a four-stroke lead, finally clinched the victory thanks to a birdie on the first playoff hole. This triumph marks his third title on the European tour this year.This edition of the national tournament was special, as for the first time, the winner secured an automatic place in the Masters and The Open.“Dan and Joel Girrbach played really well today. They were holing putts, and I just couldn’t get the ball in the hole. I felt like I was really up against it,” Penge commented. “But I felt like I managed myself really well, and from tee to green, I think I played really solid. Never mind the putts; I think I used them all yesterday, but obviously holing that one was worth the wait.”
Marco Penge
Penge, with a card of 72 strokes (+1) on Sunday, tied with Brown at the top of the leaderboard with a total of 15 under par for the tournament. Brown, who celebrated his 31st birthday on Saturday, started the day five strokes behind, but rallied with a final round of 67 (-4). Despite dealing with a right shoulder ailment that required treatment, he managed to force a tie with a birdie on the last hole. The 27-year-old golfer, Penge, has also won the Danish Golf Championship and the Hainan Classic. Girrbach (69) started the day four strokes behind and finished in third position with a total of 14 under par. 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 round of 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, did not make the cut at the Club de Campo Villa de Madrid.“It’s crazy,” Penge said about the possibility of playing in the Masters. “It’s a golf course I’ve always wanted to play, because I feel like my game suits it very well.”
Marco Penge
