Alvaro Quiros wins Open de España

Alvaro Quiros became the first home winner of the Spanish Open since 2002 by beating England’s James Morrison in a playoff at Real Club de Golf de Sevilla

Alvaro Quiros
Fergus Bisset
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published

Alvaro Quiros became the first home winner of the Spanish Open since Sergio Garcia in 2002 by beating England's James Morrison in a playoff at Real Club de Golf de Sevilla.

The long-hitting 27-year-old was the highest ranked player in the field and he lived up to his billing as favourite, claiming his fourth European Tour title.

Quiros began the final round trailing another Englishman Mark Foster by three strokes but that deficit was quickly lessened to one as the Spaniard made two birdies on the front nine. Foster dropped away with two bogeys on the run for home though he remained in a host of players who had the chance to take the title right up to the tournament's climax.

As it was, Quiros and Morrison finished tied at the top on 11-under-par after 72 holes so sudden-death was required. The pair returned to the difficult 18th tee and both hit good tee shots to the middle of the fairway. Morrison then caught his second shot slightly fat and pulled it into the water hazard. Quiros fired in close and two-putted to comfortably take the victory.

"I think it's one of the most important things in my life for sure," said the Spaniard. "To be the winner of your Open is something really, really great - with The Ryder Cup and the World Cup it's the best three things in golf for me."

Despite losing out Morrison was delighted with his runner's up finish. He only narrowly secured his European Tour playing rights for this season but has already notched up a victory, a second, fourth and sixth. "I'm loving every minute of it, he said."

Open de España Real Club de Golf de Sevilla, Spain April 29 - May 2, purse €2,000,000, par 72

1    Alvaro Quiros (Esp)    68    72    67    70    277    €333,330     2    James Morrison (Eng)    73    67    70    67    277    €222,220 T3    Alejandro Canizares (Esp) 71    69    70    68    278    €103,333 T3    Raphael Jacquelin (Fra)    69    67    71    71    278    €103,333 T3    Mark Foster (Eng)    69    66    69    74    278    €103,333 T6    Paul Waring (Eng)    66    75    72    66    279    €56,200 T6    Paul Lawrie (Sco)        74    67    71    67    279    €56,200 T6    Nicolas Colsaerts (Bel)    71    66    72    70    279    €56,200 T6    Stephen Dodd (Wal)    69    68    71    71    279    €56,200

Fergus Bisset
Fergus Bisset
Contributing Editor

Fergus is Golf Monthly's resident expert on the history of the game and has written extensively on that subject. He has also worked with Golf Monthly to produce a podcast series. Called 18 Majors: The Golf History Show it offers new and in-depth perspectives on some of the most important moments in golf's long history. You can find all the details about it here.

He is a golf obsessive and 1-handicapper. Growing up in the North East of Scotland, golf runs through his veins and his passion for the sport was bolstered during his time at St Andrews university studying history. He went on to earn a post graduate diploma from the London School of Journalism. Fergus has worked for Golf Monthly since 2004 and has written two books on the game; "Great Golf Debates" together with Jezz Ellwood of Golf Monthly and the history section of "The Ultimate Golf Book" together with Neil Tappin , also of Golf Monthly.

Fergus once shanked a ball from just over Granny Clark's Wynd on the 18th of the Old Course that struck the St Andrews Golf Club and rebounded into the Valley of Sin, from where he saved par. Who says there's no golfing god?

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