Grant Forrest wins Spanish Open with final-hole birdie
Grant Forrest is the Spanish Open champion after a last-hole birdie sealed a one-shot win in Madrid.
The Scot closed with a one-under 70 at Club de Campo Villa de Madrid on Sunday, 11 October 2026, to finish at 14 under par and hold off Eugenio Chacarra and Victor Perez, who tied for second at 13 under, according to BBC Sport. One shot. One putt. Done.
Forrest needed that birdie. The 18th is a par-4, the expected score for the hole, and he played it perfectly when the tournament was on the line. A birdie, one stroke under par for a hole, turned a potential play-off into a win.
The rewards are big. The victory brought a £480,000 first prize and places in next year's The Open and the Masters. It is his third DP World Tour title and his first professional win outside Scotland.
What makes this stand out is how long he had to hold his nerve. Forrest took a one-stroke lead into the weekend in Madrid after leading through two rounds, with fellow Scot Connor Syme among those chasing, according to Sky Sports.
By Saturday evening the picture had tightened. Forrest signed for a 67 to reach 13-under 200, level with England's Joe Dean going into the final round. A share of the lead after 54 holes is no cushion. It means every loose drive on Sunday is punished and every three-footer feels longer.
The week had an early twist too. Spain's Chacarra shared the lead during the opening rounds despite playing with a broken toe. He refused to fade, and stayed in the fight all the way to that 13-under finish alongside Perez.
For fans, this means a new name in two of next year's biggest fields. Forrest will tee it up at The Open and at Augusta, the tight, pressure-filled majors where a calm final round in Madrid counts for plenty.
