Whatever future success Angel Hidalgo achieves, he will forever remember when everything came together for him to win the Open de España presented by Madrid.
On his 80th DP World Tour appearance, the Spaniard edged out countryman Jon Rahm on the second play-off hole at Club de Campo Villa de Madrid to win his national open.
Two years on from his maiden DP World Tour title, he recalls the key moments of a dramatic day.
A win that was destined to be
Despite making four of his previous five cuts coming into his fourth appearance at his national open, Hidalgo was considered an outsider in a field that was headlined by two-time Major champion and former World Number One Rahm. But the then 26-year-old, ranked 398th in the Official World Golf Ranking at the time, believed a breakthrough win was around the corner.
“In the weeks leading up, at the Irish Open, the one won by Rasmus Højgaard, I remember that Friday I texted my ex-coach saying I was dreaming the last few weeks and all the dreams are the same: I'm going to win the Spanish Open.
"It’s pretty funny. When I won that Sunday, he sent me the screenshot of that conversation. So that was pretty cool.”
A nervous start to his final round
Going into the final day, Hidalgo led by two shots from Rahm, who was targeting a fourth win at the event, and emerging talent David Puig a shot further back. But it was all change as soon as the first hole, with Hidalgo missing a three-foot putt for par and Rahm starting with a birdie, as did Puig. With all eyes on the Spanish trio playing together in a three-ball, it was future DP World Tour winner Puig who made the strongest start as he briefly moved three clear after the seventh, but by the tenth all three players were level.
"I remember the short putt I missed on the first. I'd been relaxed but it was the first time playing with Jon, so I was pretty nervous in the first few holes.
"But I realised at a point he hadn’t started so well, like me, and so I saw that he was human. He’s like me, he can make bogeys. The problem was the start of David, he was on fire.
“But it was a super enjoyable round. We were talking a little bit. Three Spaniards together in the last round was obviously pretty special. Everyone was watching our group, so that was pretty cool."
A remarkable recovery shot that defined his swashbuckling style
After moving a shot ahead through 13, Hidalgo produced a highlight-worthy flop shot over a greenside bunker from a short-sided position before rolling in an 18-foot birdie putt to stay ahead as Rahm also made a gain. The commitment to the shot, when it could have gone all wrong, and the ensuing fist pump in celebration was in-keeping with the attack-minded display that had captured the imagination of fans throughout the week.
"I remember saying to my caddie if I chip to the left, I will make six [a bogey].
"I don't know why but in my feelings if I went to the left I'd then three-putt because it was a pretty tough pin putting from the left side.
"In the worst case, I'm going to go into the bunker and it'd be an uphill bunker shot, so quite a decent one.
"But when I saw the ball flying, land on the green, run out for a long putt, I was pretty happy. I didn't expect I'm going to hole that putt.
"Jon played a perfect hole and he made birdie and I played a terrible hole and I made birdie. That helped a lot to stay two shots ahead."
Overcoming short missed putt for victory to go again in play-off
With two holes to play, Hidalgo still led by two but, with Puig fading away by then, Rahm produced a birdie-birdie finish. Still, Hidalgo had the chance to win in regulation play but missed from inside of five feet to set up a play-off. On a drivable par four suited to a player with greater carry off the tee, and despite seeing a chance initially slip by, he was quick to regain his composure.
"The first thought I had was everyone wanted to think I was shaking but I was pretty relaxed. I thought it was inside right and the ball broke to the right.
"When I signed the card and they told me 'you're going to play the play-off and the buggies are waiting for you', at that moment I was excited rather than thinking I'd missed a four-foot putt to win the Spanish Open.
"That helped me a lot because I arrived to the 18th tee for the play-off pretty chilled, we'll say."
"I remember the toughest moment of the play-off was my birdie putt to stay alive.
"At that point, I was thinking no one will remember that one on the 72nd but if you miss this one too, everyone will remember you missed both putts.
"I just tried to hit the middle of the face. When I saw the ball in the middle of the hole I said, I don't care what happens right now, I'm safe. I was pretty relieved.
"I remember watching the Medinah documentary, and Martin Kaymer's words that pressure was that heavy and you just need to think about the putt. I had a similar feeling. When I holed it, I was super proud of myself...
"I promise, my coach told me I didn't have a chance to win on the 18th hole because [Rahm] can easily reach the green and I needed to smash my drive to just land near the front.
"In theory, it was not the hole for me, but you never know what can happen."
Respect for Rahm
In winning the title, Hidalgo added his name alongside Spanish greats Seve Ballesteros, Rahm, Sergio Garcia and Miguel Ángel Jiménez. It also stopped Rahm from moving ahead of Ballesteros' haul of three titles. Despite the pain of defeat, Rahm was magnanimous and Hidalgo said the heartfelt embrace the pair shared is something that he will remember as a touch of class.
"I remember my first thought was to hug my caddie, but at the same time, I could feel my friends throwing me champagne.
"My next thought was I needed to go and see Jon. I know it's not the place where he wants to be so I wanted to shake his hand and say to him how grateful and how nice he was with me all the round."
Connecting with fans
While he may have had his backers at the start of the week, Hidalgo ended it with untold new fans. That in itself was clear to tell by the reaction he received when he raised his arms, with cries of ‘Hidalgo, Hidalgo’ ringing out loud. This, just a few years after watching his national open as a fan from the trees at Club de Campo Villa de Madrid...
"I'm a little bit different than the normal players.
"That's why maybe for the kids they like me, I shake their hands and talk with them even on the tees if we are waiting and start talking with the kids or signing a ball.
"I don't see many players do that, but I don't do that to force myself."
Why this win may never be topped
Whatever happens in the future, Hidalgo will forever be able to call himself a champion at his national open. A source of immense pride personally, the 28-year-old concedes even a victory in a Major Championship may not trump it due to the emotional significance.
"National opens mean absolutely everything.
"It's probably the fifth Major, it's certainly what I feel. If one day I'm lucky enough to win a Major, I don't think I'm going to feel the same. Obviously not all my friends are going to be there, but Madrid for me is super special because most of my friends live there, my family and coaches, everyone was there that day.
"Imagine winning I don't know, the Masters or U.S. Open, you will have your team there, but not all your friends or whatever. So I can't imagine a better place to win a tournament, and obviously your national open is the best."
