The Open de Portugal at Royal Óbidos presents itself as a decisive stage in the final stretch of the HotelPlanner Tour season. With five tournaments remaining until the season’s conclusion, every stroke counts in the battle for the twenty coveted DP World Tour 2025 cards, and Spanish golf is once again in the spotlight. Quim Vidal (-10) leads the tournament with a steady pace, while Sebas García (-8) closely follows in third place, just two strokes behind.
The lead could be even greater as the Catalan still has three holes left to play in the second round, which couldn’t be completed due to the fog suspension at the start of the day.
Vidal has found the perfect place in Portugal to make a statement. His goal is clear: to mathematically secure his promotion to the DP World Tour as soon as possible. The numbers already favour him, but a victory at Royal Óbidos would eliminate any calculations and allow him to play the end of the season with the peace of mind of having completed his tasks. His solid golf over these first two days has taken him to the top of the leaderboard and confirms that he wants to secure his pass as soon as possible… He started on the 10th hole and replicated the five under par from the first round in that stretch, and in the six holes he played in the second round, he matched the course for a total of ten under par and solo leadership. Two bogeys in two rounds are the best definition of his game this week.
In his wake appears Sebas García (-8). The Madrid native carries a true competitive marathon on his shoulders, stringing together 17 weeks of competition with only one week of rest in between. The obsession is to achieve a result that propels him towards those twenty spots. At Royal Óbidos, he seems to have found the ideal setting to make his mark. After an opening round of 66 strokes, he signed a 68 on Friday, keeping him fully in the fight.
At the end of his round, Sebas acknowledged feeling satisfied: “I feel better than yesterday because I think I played better. It was a slightly tougher day, the course was demanding, but I’m happy with the way I competed”. The Madrid native insisted that the important thing will be to maintain the same mindset he has applied in recent weeks: “I’ve played well and I have to keep it up. Not thinking beyond. Tomorrow is another day, the sun will rise the same, and we must face it calmly”.
The season is proving to be both a physical and mental challenge for García. He himself humorously admitted the accumulated fatigue: “I’ve played many tournaments in a row. Maybe this question about whether I enjoy it should be answered by my wife”, he commented with laughter, although he immediately emphasized that he feels happy and motivated at this stage. The Madrid native, ranked 50th in the Road to Mallorca, needs a serious result to climb positions and get fully into the fight for the card. This weekend in Portugal could be the opportunity he has been seeking for so long. The reward for perseverance may bear fruit.
A little further back, but still with chances for everything, is Rocco Repetto Taylor (-5), another Spaniard who has adapted well to the Royal Óbidos course. The course, designed by Seve Ballesteros shortly before his passing, adds a symbolic and emotional component to the tournament. Each edition on this course is, in a way, a tribute to the genius from Pedreña, and for Spanish players, it holds special significance.
The weekend promises to be thrilling. Vidal, with his sights set on securing his immediate future in the DP World Tour, starts with an advantage. Sebas García, hungry for results, threatens to close the gap and seize the opportunity. And a name like Repetto Taylor completes the roster of Spaniards with a chance to aspire to the title. Also making the cut in Portugal: Luis Masaveu (-2), Borja Virto (-2), Albert Boneta (-2), Adri Arnaus (-1), and Santi Tarrio (-1). On the other hand, departing earlier than expected are Lucas Vacarisas (+8), Victor Pastor, and Álvaro Quirós.
Royal Óbidos will witness an exciting duel between the security of a leader seeking to confirm his ticket to the elite and the ambition of a pursuer clinging to desire. With four tournaments remaining, the pressure is immense and the margin for error minimal. In Portugal, Spanish golf has much at stake, and everything points to a weekend full of strong emotions. Two stages remain, and we will see if anyone can reach the top.
