September 30, 2024
Hidalgo Portillo defeated
Jon Rahm in a playoff to win the acciona Open de Espana after shooting a round of one-under 70 on Sunday.
ANALYSIS
Hidalgo Portillo was in command of the tournament for much of the week, but Sunday was a challenge as expected. He was two-over-par after his first seven holes, but was able to get back on track with back-to-back birdies on 8 and 9. Hidalgo Portillo made another birdie on 14, but it was all pars otherwise on the back-nine while Rahm birdied the last two holes to force a playoff. Hidalgo Portillo showed no signs of nerves in the playoff matching Rahm with a birdie on the first extra hole and then making another birdie on the second playoff hole to notch his first career DP World Tour victory. The 26-year-old now moves up to 18th in the Race to Dubai standings and will hope to keep things rolling at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship. He is not far off from earning a PGA Tour card for 2025.