Angel Hidalgo opened with a 6-under 65 and will take a two-shot lead into Friday’s second round of the 2024 Spanish Open.
The 26-year-old Spaniard, a longshot ranked 398 in the world, got off to a dream start, scoring a birdie on No. 1, then chasing it with an eagle on the par-5 4th. Hidalgo then reeled off four birdies in a five-hole span (Nos. 7-9 and 11) to reach 7 under. He added another birdie on 15 to hit 8 under but dropped shots on 16 and 17 to fall back to 6 under.
“I played really, really good today. It’s a long time since I stroked the putts as well as today,” said Hildago. “Unlucky the last few shots, two bad swings with the irons, but pretty happy and looking forward the next three days.
“I holed an important (par) putt on number six, I think that was the key for the next three birdies – this course has this type of stretch that you can make a few birdies in a row.
“Obviously if I make three pars to finish I’d probably be more happy but yeah, it’s good.
“It’s different (playing at home), I’m not going to lie. You feel the love, you feel the support. Yeah, it’s incredible playing at home, and I wish that we could play more tournaments here.”
Sepp Straka, who was paired with Jon Rahm on Thursday, was among a trio at 4-under 67. The Austrian was joined in the second spot by England’s Sam Bairstow and Frenchman Julien Guerrier.
“Yeah, it was great,” said Straka. “It’s an honor to be able to play with him [Rahm] here in his home open. We had a really great time.”
Rahm, the three-time Spanish Open champion, was one further back after a 3-under 68. The home hero signed for a scorecard featuring two bogeys and five birdies, highlighted by back-to-back gains on No. 17 and 18.
“I wish I could do it on purpose. Luckily I only had two bogeys today,” said Rahm.
“I think the (birdie) on 17 was very important because you make a bogey after what I felt like was a good swing off the tee, and then you get to a difficult hole – it’s 195 yards with the crosswind, into the wind, and the green, it’s tiny, it looks like a thumbtack.
“There’s nowhere to miss it where it’s easy, and to hit a good shot and make the putt was huge.”
Spain’s Adri Arnaus (68) and China’s Ashun Wu (68) were the others in the T5 group alongside Rahm.
Two more Spaniards, David Puig and amateur Luis Masaveu, joined England’s Tommy Fleetwood and Aussie Sam Jones in the 8th position at 2-under 69.
2024 Spanish Open
Top-10 Leaders: Round 1
Pos-Player-To Par (Score)
1. Angel Hidalgo -6 (65)
2. Sepp Straka -4 (67)
2. Sam Bairstow -4 (67)
2. Julien Guerrier -4 (67)
5. Jon Rahm -3 (68)
5. Adri Arnaus -3 (68)
5. Ashun Wu -3 (68)
8. David Puig -2 (69)
8. Luis Masaveu -2 (69)
8. Tommy Fleetwood -2 (69)
8. Sam Jones -2 (69)
