'Fairytale' for Grant Forrest as Spanish success secures Masters and The Open spots

The 33–year-old produced a brilliant up and down to birdie the 18th at Club de Campo and secure a one-shot win over home favourite Eugenio Chacarra and Frenchman Victor Perez.

Finishing with a 14-under-par total, Forrest secured a third DP World Tour victory, with both his previous success having come on Scottish soil after landing the Hero Open at Fairmont St Andrews in 2021 then adding the Nexo Championship at Trump International Golf Links in Aberdeenshire last year.

A big bonus for the East Lothian-based player on this occasion are two tasty rewards he has earned in 2027. He’ll be making his debut in The Masters at Augusta before teeing up for a third time in The Open when the 155th edition is held at St Andrews.

“It is fairytale stuff,” admitted the world No 296 in an interview with Sky Sports Golf after holing the winning putt in the Spanish capital. “I’ve played two Opens and to be going to Augusta, I can’t get my head round it.”

Referring to the fact he missed out on securing a spot in the Green Jacket event after losing in the final to Frenchman Romain Langasque at Carnoustie, he added: “I was close in the Amateur Championship 11 years ago now. You could have a great career in this game and never get to go to Augusta. I cannot believe it.”

Forrest joined Bernard Gallacher (1977), Brian Barnes (1978), Sam Torrance (1982) and Colin Montgomerie (1994) in delivering a Scottish success in one of the iconic events on the DP World Tour schedule.

In truth, it was a victory out of the blue for Forrest, who’d headed into the event after missing four successive cuts and only making it through to the weekend on one occasion since the end of May.

“I’m in pure shock just now,” he admitted of a win worth $637,500, jumping from 118th in the Race to Dubai to 27th. “It’s been such a tough year. I’ve not played well at all. Yeah, I’ve got good memories of this course and this tournament from previous years (finishing joint-third in both 2021 and 2024) and to walk away with a win is just unbelievable.”

Forrest, who’d shared the lead with Englishman Joe Dean heading into the closing circuit, was two over for the day through 11 holes before igniting his title challenge with back-to-back birdies at the 13th and 14th to move into a share of the lead.

He then missed a good birdie opportunity at the par-4 15th after producing a great recovery from the right rough before pars at the next two left him tied for the lead heading to the last with Chacarra, who’d set the clubhouse target after a closing 66, and Perez.

Playing in the final group along with British Masters champion Dean, Forrest and Perez saw their tee shots at the drivable par-4 18th finish a few inches apart in thick rough on the left of the green.

Probably delighted that he was slightly further away and also had a marginally better lie, Forrest played a lovely shot to get his chip to just over three feet, confidently knocking in the putt for victory after Edinburgh-based Perez was unable to convert his ten-footer.

“It was tough,” said Forrest of the final day in the $3.75 million event. “I wasn’t too sure what other groups were doing. It was just a matter of keeping yourself in it and we did that really well. A couple of nice putts at the right time. Yeah, just dug in there so well despite a couple of frustrating things.”

After being in contention along with Forrest at the halfway stage, Connor Syme slipped to joint-37th after signing off with scores of 75-71 to earn $22,875.

Michael Stewart, meanwhile, picked up $14,250 for finishing in a tie for 52nd after a last-day 68, with David Law dropping two spots to 97th in the Race to Dubai after having to settle for a share of 69th spot and a cheque worth $6,750.