Open de Espana Marco Penge Leads Despite Pitching Wedge Mishap While Jon Rahm Faces Challenging Day
Marco Penge of England has taken control of the Open de España with a commanding four-shot lead ahead of the final round. His impressive performance comes despite an early setback on Saturday, where he broke his pitching wedge while playing from the trees at the second hole.
After managing to save par on that hole, Penge navigated the first six holes in one over par. However, he then embarked on a remarkable scoring spree, achieving eight birdies in just ten holes. His successful putts included impressive distances of 24, 20, 17, and 16 feet, along with a chip-in at the twelfth hole. Penge completed his round with a score of 64, bringing his total to an impressive 16 under par at Club de Campo.
Challengers Falling Behind
Penge’s nearest competitor is his playing partner, Joel Girrbach, trailing at 12 under par. Multiple players are close behind, including:
- Dan Brown, who is 11 under par, celebrating his 31st birthday.
- Patrick Reed, a veteran of the Ryder Cup, also at 11 under.
- Tom McKibbin from Northern Ireland, at 10 under.
Penge expressed his mindset saying, “I was just trying to go as low as I could.” He emphasized the importance of maintaining a proactive approach while leading, as he recognizes that competitors will be striving to catch up.
Jon Rahm’s Struggles
In contrast, local favorite Jon Rahm is facing an uphill battle for a record fourth title. He currently sits tied for 28th place after a round of 71, which included a double bogey. Rahm’s hopes of overtaking Seve Ballesteros as the most successful golfer in the event’s history, since the establishment of the European Tour in 1972, are dwindling. He finds himself 12 shots behind Penge going into the final day of competition.
The final round promises excitement as Penge seeks to secure his victory and Rahm aims for a comeback. Fans and spectators alike will be keen to see how the leaderboard shifts in the concluding hours of the Open de España.
