Sergio García shot a level-par 71 in round two and heads into the weekend at -4. Ángel Hidalgo and Josele Ballester also made a move in Friday’s morning session.
Sergio García’s dream of winning his second Open de España presented by Madrid is still intact. Thirty years after making his debut at the tournament, the Spaniard remains one of the event’s leading figures. On Friday, he had to grind his way to a level-par 71 to stay at -4 overall and maintain his chances heading into the weekend.
It was not a straightforward day for the 2002 champion. Despite producing solid golf for much of the round, García was unable to convert his good play into a low score. Three birdies and as many bogeys ultimately left him with a card that would have felt like a missed opportunity.
“I think I probably played well enough to shoot three or four under. In the end, you keep making pars and your head drops a bit,” Sergio admitted, convinced he deserved a better result.
The thick rough at Real Club de Campo Villa de Madrid, made particularly punishing by the rain of recent days, was one of the biggest hazards. “We found more rough than we wanted and, when you’re in there, you rely heavily on getting a good lie. It’s a real lottery knowing exactly how the ball’s going to come out,” he explained.
However, the player from Castellon still has his sights set on reaching Sunday with a chance to win. “All I can do is focus on myself and play as well as possible, kind of like I did yesterday. Shooting six or seven under tomorrow and putting myself in a position to win my national open again would be very special.”
Ángel Hidalgo also found plenty of reason for optimism. The Malaga native produced a bogey-free round that allows him to look ahead to the weekend with renewed confidence and put the bitter memory of last year’s event behind him.
“Last year hurt a lot, especially because of the way I played. Now that I’ve laid that ghost to rest, there are 36 holes of pressure to go, but the kind of pressure it’s great to have,” said Hidalgo, who is excited to have another chance to challenge the top of the leaderboard.
Josele Ballester, meanwhile, produced an impressive finish, making three birdies in his last four holes to move to -2 overall.
“To see myself at two under heading into the weekend, knowing that my game is in good shape and I just need a few more putts to drop, is encouraging,” said the Castellon native.
With two rounds still to play, Sergio García continues to carry the hopes of a Spanish contingent determined to maintain its strong showing in Madrid.
