Jon Rahm narrowly missed out on the Spanish Open title (Image: Getty)
Angel Hidalgo edged out Jon Rahm in a play-off to claim his first DP World Tour title at the Spanish Open.
Hidalgo, 26, had led from the opening round and showed incredible composure to pip his compatriot to the post, who was hunting for a record fourth Spanish Open title.
The pair were level at 14 under par after 72 holes, but Hidalgo triumphed at the second extra hole after Rahm’s wayward tee shot.
A chip to within a few feet of the hole set up a simple putt for Hidalgo. His victory was a testament to his swashbuckling style, which saw him recover from back-to-back bogeys at the fifth and sixth to card three birdies and no further dropped shots.
A stunning flop shot over a massive greenside bunker at the 14th was the highlight of his round, and he said: “To be here and win the tournament is unreal. Oh, my gosh, it’s amazing.
“I played a pretty smart game and I stroked the putter really well so yeah, I’m happy. And especially with Jon, probably he’s the most important player in the last 20 or 30 years in Spain.”
Rahm, who had overcome illness to compete, was gracious in defeat, saying of Hidalgo: “May he enjoy it. Winning at home, winning a Spanish Open with all the support that there has been, you could tell how much he felt it and how important it was for him.
“Thinking that on Tuesday morning I was in hospital in another country, on the other side of the Atlantic, in the end, I’m happy. It’s a pity to have lost in the play-off (but) I can’t say it has been a bad week.”
English duo Tommy Fleetwood and Joe Dean, along with Scotland’s Grant Forrest, were among a group of six players tied for third on 10 under par.
David Puig, completing the Spanish trio in the final group showdown, was winning by three at one stage on the front nine but faded and finished on 10 under par.