East Lothian golfer Grant Forrest is in dreamland today after winning the Spanish Open golf title at the Real Campo de Madrid.
The former Stewart’s Melville student won by a shot from Victor Perez and home favourite Eugenio Lopez Chacarra to not only pick up a cheque for $637,500 but unlock untold riches in the form of an invite to next year’s US Masters at Augusta and The Open at St Andrews.
It is Forrest’s third win on the DP world tour and the first outwith Scotland.
After getting up-and-down from the rough at the end of the 72nd hole for a birdie sealed with a four foot putt he told Sky Sports of his final round one under par 70:
“I’m in shock, pure shock, its been such a tough year, i have not played well at all.”
That was a reference to four missed cuts leading into the Spanish Open. He added:
“I’ve got good memories of this course, this tournament from previous years, to walk away with a win is unbelievable.
“it was tough because i was not too sure what other groups were doing … (it was) just a matter of keeping ourselves in there.
“We did that really well, a couple of nice putts at the right time (and) dug in so well despite a couple of frustrating things.”
On the invitations to next year’s US Masters and The Open at St Andrews, he said:
“That’s fairytale stuff. i have played two Opens, to be going to Augusta … I can’t get my head around it.
You (can)” have a great career but never get to go to Augusta. I can’t believe it.”
Joint leader overnight, Forrest looked to be slipping out of contention when he fell two shots behind but steadied his inconsistent work off the tee and relied heavily on an impressive short game on the back nine to haul his way back
In taking the title the 33-year-old Livingston-born player follows in the footsteps of fellow Scots Colin Montgomerie, Sam Torrance, Brian Barnes and Bernard Gallacher.
