Rafael Cabrera-Bello ended a poor run of form by winning the Spanish Open title on Sunday, edging out fellow home hope Adri Arnaus in a playoff in Madrid.
Cabrera-Bello slumped to 231st in the world rankings after failing to post a top-10 finish since January. But the 37-year-old held his nerve to secure his first tournament victory since 2017, making a birdie on the first sudden-death playoff hole.
Arnaus, who trailed Cabrera-Bello by two shots heading into the final round, turned it around to lead by two at the turn. But Cabrera-Bello made three straight birdies from the 13th hole and signed for a two-under-par 69 and a 19-under total.
Arnaus, chasing a first European Tour win, missed a 10-foot birdie putt for the title on the last green and had to settle for a playoff, where Cabrera-Bello emerged on top.
World No 1 Jon Rahm’s tilt for a third successive Spanish Open crown hit the buffers over the weekend, as a two-under 69 left him in a tie for 17th at 13-under.
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Photo: Stuart Franklin/Getty Images
