Jon Rahm’s final-round 67 ensured he took the Spanish Open title but Irishman Paul Dunne’s second-place finish keeps him on track for a spot at this year’s Ryder Cup (Europe 6/5 Outright).
Dunne, who will be among the leading contenders for the European Tour’s Trophee Hassan II event this week, held a one-shot lead going into the final day’s play at the Centro Nacional de Golf.
But he couldn’t follow up his sparkling 68 on Saturday and a one-under par round of 71 allowed the local favourite to clinch the title.
Although the Greystones golfer missed out on a chance to move to the brink of the world’s top-50, he sits seventh in the European Ryder Cup standings, ahead of Rory McIlroy, with the top four certain to be part of Thomas Bjorn’s 12-man team for Paris.
“I felt like I hit the ball great,” he said. “My short game let me down a little bit. I hit a lot of chips that I thought were better than they were.
“I just kept misjudging bounces – some of them skidded, some of them bounced soft. I feel like when I played for one I got the other result. It’s a little frustrating not to get anything going, not to get any putts to go in. It’s just one of those days.
“My game is great. I hit the ball fantastic, I was hitting it long and straight. I feel good going into the next few weeks. Obviously I’m disappointed not to win, but it is what it is.”
Dunne (80/1 Outright – The Open Championship 2018) is currently at an all-time high world ranking of 68th in the world and will be hoping to maintain his form until The Open, which will take place at Carnoustie in July.
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Odds subject to change
