At Glance
‣ Adrian Otaegui won the China Open on the DP World Tour by a single stroke, marking his fifth European Tour victory, with a final score of 18-under after 54 holes due to weather disruptions.
‣ Otaegui’s victory also secured him a spot at the upcoming PGA Championship, highlighting the importance of this win not just for his career achievements but also for his participation in major golf tournaments.
‣ The tournament saw a dramatic finish as Sebastian Soderberg, who was leading the Asian Swing and aiming for a victory, ended up tying for third after a disappointing final round and an out-of-bounds drive on the 18th hole, showcasing the unpredictable nature of golf.
The moment @adrianotaegui claimed his FIFTH DP World Tour title 👏🇪🇸#VolvoChinaOpen
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour)
Oh, what a day it was! Adrian Otaegui, that Spaniard with a knack for drama, snagged the China Open title on the DP World Tour. And guess what? He did it by just a whisker – a single stroke ahead of Italy’s Guido Migliozzi. Sunday was his day, alright, finishing with a dazzling 65.
This wasn’t just any win. It marked Otaegui’s fifth victory on the European Tour. All this excitement unfolded with a total score of 18-under. And get this – it was all squeezed into just 54 holes. Why? Because Mother Nature decided to throw in some thunder and lightning at Hidden Grace Golf Club in Shenzhen, scrapping Saturday’s round.
But there’s more to the story. This win wasn’t just for the trophy cabinet. No, sir. Otaegui, at 31, punched his ticket to the PGA Championship. That’s right, finishing third in the Asian Swing part of the DP World Tour’s calendar has its perks.
Now, let’s talk about Sebastian Soderberg. The guy was on fire, aiming for a wire-to-wire victory in China. But, as fate would have it, his final round was a bit of a struggle. A level-par 72 just didn’t cut it, especially after he had us all on the edge of our seats with a stunning 63 earlier.
As Otaegui was racking up birdies left and right, Soderberg just couldn’t catch a break. And then, in the final three holes, Otaegui sneaks past him for the lead. Both managed birdies on the 17th, tying things up. But Otaegui, cool as a cucumber, finished with a par to set the clubhouse lead at -18.
The drama didn’t end there. Soderberg, standing on the 18th tee with victory within reach, sends his drive out of bounds. Ouch. A double bogey dropped him into a tie for third. Talk about a heartbreaker.
Otaegui couldn’t hide his joy. “I’m very, very happy,” he said, probably grinning from ear to ear. He had to play the waiting game after finishing his round, watching the final group to see if his lead would hold. Spoiler alert: it did.
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Otaegui shared his strategy too. Starting five shots back, he tried not to obsess over the leaderboard. Instead, he focused on playing his game, just like he did earlier in the week. His confidence with the putter grew, feeling calmer as the round progressed.
He also touched on his PGA Championship spot. “Playing a Major this year was a big goal for me,” he admitted. And now, with a bit of rest at home, he’s off to America.
The leaderboard was packed. Soderberg ended up tied with Paul Waring and Joel Girrbach at -16. Lloyd Jefferson Go clinched solo sixth at 15-under. And don’t forget Brandon Stone’s brilliant final-round 64, putting him just a shot behind.
Matthias Schwab and Johannes Veerman finished T8 at 13-under, with Antoine Rozner rounding out the top-10 at 12-under.
As for the DP World Tour, it’s taking a brief hiatus until after the PGA Championship. The action resumes with the European Swing at the Soudal Open in Belgium. Can’t wait to see what happens next!
