The 2025 edition of the Open de España presented by Madrid is not just any edition for home players like Eugenio Chacarra and Alex Del Rey because, for the first time, the pair arrive at their national open with their first DP World Tour titles under their arms.
Winning on tour is something they had both dreamed of since they were little and they both got over the line early this season; Del Rey at Ras Al Khaimah and Chacarra at the Hero Indian Open. They are still the only two Spanish victories on the DP World Tour in 2025.
“Of course, something changes when you arrive at this tournament as a winner, because at this point of the year I’ve qualified for the DPWT playoffs and that obviously relaxes you, but there are always new goals. It’s always special to return home. It’s a tournament that I circle in red on my calendar because I grew up in this city. I’ve played this course a lot, and although in previous years perhaps I’ve been too distracted by everything that’s going on, I think I’ve learned from that and I treat it as just another tournament of the season where I also want to play well for my friends, my family and all the Spanish fans,” said Eugenio Chacarra before setting off for his practice round in Madrid.
For Del Rey, the difference between this and every other week is more of an emotional one, even more so this time around as he tees it up as a winner: “You come to Madrid full of excitement because you’re with friends, family and all the people who will come and watch me this week, and although the pressure is the same because I want to do well, the difference is that if I have a chance to win on Sunday, I know that I can do it and the atmosphere will help me. Hopefully having had a quieter calendar after the win will tell and I won’t be as tired as I have been at this tournament so I can have a good week.”
At this time of year, the tension and drama are cranked up a notch at tournaments like the Open de España because of their proximity to the season finale, which means for many they represent a last chance to achieve their goals. In the case of the two Madrid natives, they are in a very different situation to previous years and all they have to focus on is their place among the season’s top 70 players. Chacarra has already qualified, while Del Rey could do with a good week to secure his place.
“Honestly, since winning I haven’t played particularly well, but in recent weeks I’m feeling more comfortable again, hitting the ball well, which resulted in a good week at the Dunhill after a few changes. Hopefully I’ll have a good week, because I’m feeling good,” said Del Rey.
In the case of Chacarra, his most ambitious goal is to earn one of the 10 PGA Tour cards that go to the best of the year on the DP World Tour: “that’s always been my dream, to play with the best on that tour, and to do that I need to play well this week and the four weeks I have left. It’s the same with the prize of a place at the Masters and The Open that the winner here gets. We’re taking it step by step, the first thing is to get in good shape for Friday.”
