Grant Forrest just won the Spanish Open on Sunday, but the real story is how bad his season was before this. In eight of his final nine competitions, the 33-year-old Scot missed the cut. This result sends him to Augusta National for the first time in his career. The Masters invited winners of specific national opens, and Forrest is now one of them.
The finish on the 18th hole defined the day. Forrest and Victor Perez both drove into the rough just beyond the green. Their balls sat only a shoe-length apart. Perez chipped to 10 feet and missed. Forrest’s chip ran out to just over 3 feet. He made the putt for the victory. This moment secured a spot in The Open Championship too. It was his third win on the European tour.
A Year of Struggle Turns Around
Forrest admitted the year had been rough. He said he had not played well at all. The win came as a total surprise to him. “I’m in shock, pure shock,” Forrest said, according to ESPN. “It’s been such a tough year. I’ve not played well at all. To walk away with a win is unbelievable.” The contrast between his recent form and this result is stark. He shared the 54-hole lead before falling back with bogeys on the front nine. Then he birdied three of his last six holes to get it done.
The financial boost is significant for his season. His victory was worth a reported $637,500. The official prize-money payout listed at €567,564.34. His victory propelled him from 118th place up to 27th within the Race to Dubai standings. He is back in contention for the season title. Eugenio Chacarra finished second, tied with Perez. Chacarra played with a fractured toe but still moved ahead of Rory McIlroy in the standings.
The Road to Augusta Was Long
“I’ve played two Opens. To be going to Augusta, I can’t get my head around it,” Forrest said. Augusta may never be reached even with a magnificent career in this sport.Among the national opens the Masters selected to invite winners was The Spanish Open. This rule change made his victory the ticket he needed.
He will join the field in April. The win guarantees his entry regardless of his world ranking. Augusta National will host his debut, while he prepares for his third appearance in The Open. The pressure of the final hole was immense. Five players had a chance to win in the final hour. Forrest held his nerve when Perez missed his chip shot. The crowd in Madrid saw a dramatic end to the tournament.
The DP World Tour sees a Scottish player secure a hat-trick of victories. His other two wins came in his native Scotland. The most recent was a year ago in the Nexo Championship. Now he adds a major championship invitation to that resume.
Other players also saw their seasons shift. Patrick Reed missed the cut after finishing 2-over par. Jacob Skov Olesen finished fourth after being tied for the lead. Ludvig Åberg tied for seventh. The leaderboard was packed with talent. Shane Lowry shared 13th place. Francesco Molinari finished tied 20th. Three consecutive rounds of 71 closed out Sergio Garcia’s start, which began well.
