Arnaus bags first DP World Tour win in marathon play-off; Rahm maintains lead
Home favourite Adri Arnaus edged to victory over South African Oliver Bekker on a sixth play-off hole to claim his maiden European Tour title at the Catalunya Championship on Sunday.
The 27-year-old from Barcelona started the final day seven shots off the pace set by Bekker, but carded a sparkling seven-under 65 to force a play-off.
The pair both parred the 18th five successive times in added holes, before the play-off moved to the 17th.
Bekker had a six-foot par put to extend the tournament further, but saw it lip out and Arnaus tapped in to secure the title.
“To come through this week is so special,” said Arnaus.
The world number 84 had come close to winning on the European Tour several times before, including when he finished runner-up to Rafa Cabrera Bello at last year’s Spanish Open.
“In the Open de Espana, we were close, we were in a play-off as well,” he added.
“This time again a play-off and we made it, so super happy.”
Meanwhile, world number two Jon Rahm closed with a 13-foot birdie put to seize a twostroke lead ater Saturday’s third round of the US PGA Mexico Open.
The 27-year-old Spaniard fired a three-under par 68 to stand on 15-under 198 ater 54 holes at Vidanta Vallarta resort.
“I played really good Golf,” Rahm said. “Tee to green was really good.”
Rahm seeks his seventh career US PGA title and his first since winning his maiden major last year at the US Open at Torrey Pines.
“It has been a litle bit of a while,” Rahm said. “So far I’m proud of the way I’ve played and I can just keep enjoying each moment and hopefully play as solid as I have tee to green, keep hiting fairways, keep hiting greens and just roll a few and hopefully extend that lead.”
Clinging to a one-stroke lead, Rahm found a greenside bunker at the par-5 18th, then blasted his third shot to the back of the green and rolled in the clutch birdie put for his third birdie on the hole in as many days.
“That one on 18 was the first one outside 10 feet I saw roll in,” Rahm said. “If I can just keep that going and make puts like I did the first two days, I think tomorrow I’ll give myself a really good chance.”
That put restored Rahm to the two-stroke edge he enjoyed when the round began with Americans Kurt Kitayama and Cameron Champ
Arnaus, who had lost in his previous two play-off appearances, started the final round seven shots behind overnight leader Bekker, but he stormed into contention with a seven-under 65 which featured five birdies and an eagle at the par-five 12th where he holed a lengthy put for his three
sharing second on 200 ater late stumbles.
“My game has felt good. I’m in great spirits, so tomorrow I’m just going to keep doing what I’ve been doing,” Champ said. “I’ve hit a few shaky shots, but I’ve just been able to get around and score.”
Americans Patrick Rodgers, Nate Lashley and Davis Riley shared fourth on 201 with countryman Alex sm alley seventh on 202 at the long-established event, which makes its US PGA debut this year.
Rahm reached the green in two at the par-5 sixth and two-puted for birdie then drove the green at the 298-yard seventh and tapped in for birdie ater missing a 14-foot eagle put.
The Spaniard found water off the 10th tee and made bogey but answered with a birdie at the par-5 14th, dropping his approach inches from the cup, then closed with a final birdie.
“The only hiccup was the tee shot on 10,” Rahm said. “And it wasn’t even that bad.”