Angel Hidalgo moved into the automatic qualification places in the 2025 European Ryder Cup qualification process after defeating three-time Team Europe player Jon Rahm in a play-off at the Open de España presented by Madrid.
This Spaniard’s maiden DP World Tour victory at Club de Campo Villa de Madrid moved him into fifth place on the European rankings with 269.17 points.
Should Hidalgo make Captain Luke Donald’s team at Bethpage, it will be his maiden Ryder Cup appearance as well as becoming the first Spaniard since Rahm in 2018 to debut for Team Europe.
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Hidalgo and Rahm had gone head-to-head all day, however when three-time Open de España winner Rahm birdied his final two holes, the event headed to a play-off.
Both players birdied the first extra hole but after Rahm's chip slipped past second time round, Hidalgo holed a two-foot putt to take home the spoils.
Hidalgo said: "Two or three years ago, I was by the side of the first tee, in the trees, supporting Jon - without playing, I just come here to Madrid to see the tournament.
"To be here and win the tournament is unreal. Oh, my gosh, it's amazing.
“That's for everyone that was there and believed in me, my team, my family, especially my caddie, he's my best friend.
"I called him last year, I was struggling a little, and he stopped playing to carry my bag.
"And my grandpa yesterday was 80 years old. He passed away a few years ago but yesterday was his birthday.”
That follow through...😂@Angel_Hidalgo7 sets up birdie in style 🔥#AccionaOpen pic.twitter.com/kjjxZtfDqd
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) September 29, 2024
Meanwhile, Rahm enters the European rankings in eighth place after his play-off defeat on 166.80 points.
The two-time Ryder Cup winner is chasing a fourth consecutive appearance for Team Europe, as well as a first win on U.S. soil.
However, despite an agonising defeat, Rahm was humble in defeat: “May he enjoy it.
"Winning at home, winning a Spanish Open with all the support that there has been. You could tell how much he felt it and how important it was for him.
"What happened today helps. Having a final like this, no matter who wins, helps those kids who were watching here or on TV to want to try playing golf to experience moments like today."
As it stands, Denmark’s Rasmus Højgaard remains the top of the European rankings with 376.92 points with Rory McIlroy (340.30 points), Matt Wallace (333.10 points), Niklas Nørgaard (312.11 points), Hidalgo (269.17 points) and Matteo Manassero (227.41 points) making up the remaining automatic qualifiers.
The qualification process will end at the DP World Tour tournament which concludes on Sunday August 24, 2025.
