A fortnight shy of a 11-years ago, Pablo Larrazabal was in tears having failed to capture the Spanish Open a day after Seve Ballesteros had passed away.
Larrazabal was himself a week shy of his 27th birthday when the legendary Ballasteros left us for that great fairway in the sky.
There had been a hugely emotional line of players, caddies, officials, media and spectators on the practice range early that Saturday morning in Barcelona in honour of Seve. Among them was Larrazabal.
Larrazabal had broken through for a first Tour victory when he denied a completely shocked Colin Montgomerie to capture the 2008 French Open title and now here he was in Spain, close to home in Barcelona and looking to deliver a shocked Spanish nation, a Spanish Open success a day after Seve had passed away.
Players, caddies, officials and friends line-up on the range at the 2011 Spanish Open, the day Seve passed away on Saturday May 6th
It was not to be with South African Thomas Aitken winning and a teary-eyed Larrazabal finishing third.
Now, and two weeks from the 11th anniversary (May 7th) of Seve’s passing and Larrazabal has won on Spanish soil for a first time since turning professional in 2004.
Larrazal brilliantly cut a swath through the closing 18 holes and coming from a share of sixth with still two completed rounds to play in the rain-affected event and emerge on Sunday to shoot a third round 68 ahead of a brilliant closing eight-under-par 62, under a continuing preferred lie ruling. to win by a shot in claiming victory in the ISPS Handa Championship of Spain.
It was a long wait, and with Larrazabal on the Lakes Course practice range, when victory was confirmed and with fellow Spanish Adrian Otaegui (66) runner-up on 14-under.
It is, as mentioned, Larrazabal’s maiden win on home Spanish soil, his second win in a 50th anniversary year for the DP World Tour, a seventh win on the Tour and the 15th win of his pro career.
Cockerill and Otaegui will both need to make an eagle at the par-five 18th to force a play-off.
Meanwhile, Pablo… #ISPSHandaChampionship pic.twitter.com/W9ja4F1drX
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) April 24, 2022
“What a day. But I knew that my golf was there. I couldn’t make any putts the first three days but I told my girlfriend last night that she had to choose my clothing for the (winning) pictures!” he said smiling
“I knew that I had a low one in my bag and that’s what I did. Today I holed putts and that was key. I mean, to shoot 62 in windy conditions with the flags out there, it was good.
“I was more relaxed today (on the range, waiting for the final group to finish) than in Pecanwood. I had to wait in Pecanwood for a play-off and I told my caddie Raul (Quiros) that we had to wait, we had to keep concentrated; it was no time for jokes or for interviews.
“We had to keep concentrated just in case we had to go – and we were ready to go, and we didn’t have to (today). I have to thank so many people. First of all, my main sponsor Callaway that has been trusting me through the years. I put in a new three-wood last week, it’s working great so I have to thank them. And this weekend obviously, my physical trainer was here.”
