Spaniard Rafa Cabrera-Bello wins playoff to secure Acciona Open de España title
Rafa Cabrera-Bello beat fellow Spaniard Adri Arnaus in a one-hole playoff to win the Acciona Open de España title.
Rafa Cabrera-Bello won the Acciona Open de España after beating fellow Spaniard Adri Arnaus in a one-hole playoff in Madrid.
Having been on a four-year winless streak on the European Tour, Cabrera-Bello battled with Arnaus on the back nine and both players finished on 19-under-par.
When the pair went back up the 18th hole for the playoff, it was the 2016 Ryder Cup participant who made a cool birdie to secure the fourth European Tour victory of his career.
The 37-year-old became the 13th Spanish player to win in Spain and he will move up to a projected ranking of 30th in the Race to Dubai.
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"I am very, very happy. I knew it was going to be a really hard battle today. I didn't get off to the ideal start and I have been believing in myself. I have had amazing support for all of this week," said Cabrera-Bello.
Another incredible escape, another eagle
The eagle of his career @AdriArnaus.#AccionaOpen pic.twitter.com/6OKRtvQ3pO
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) October 10, 2021
"They (the fans) were rooting for me since the first minute and I was just hanging in there. I knew I would have an opportunity and I'm glad that the luck fell my way."
After a third-round 64, Cabrera-Bello led by two shots on 17-under-par heading into Sunday, but he began with a damaging double-bogey on the first hole at Club de Campo Villa de Madrid.
He dropped back to tie for the lead with Arnaus and Frenchman Julien Guerrier. Arnaus then took the lead with a fantastic eagle on the par-5 7th hole.
The World No. 187 made another amazing eagle at the par-5 14th hole. He was one ahead of Cabrera-Bello, but Scotsman Grant Forrest was also making a charge.
A putt to win your national open...
Incredible scenes in Madrid as @RCabreraBello wins the Acciona Open de España.
#AccionaOpen pic.twitter.com/Es1eUqPj3I
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) October 10, 2021
The 28-year-old made four birdies and an eagle in a five-hole stretch on the back nine and although he shot a 65 on the day, he could only reach 17-under-par for the week.
Cabrera-Bello, with the bit between his teeth, birdied the 13th, 14th and 15th holes to reach 19-under-par. This is what the Spanish duo finished on and the playoff began, the first all Spanish playoff on the European Tour since 1972.
But it didn't last long. In front of his family and his home crowd, Cabrera-Bello rolled in an ice-cool birdie putt on the 18th green to win on the first playoff hole.
