Borja Virto (-9) has the help of a good friend on the bag this week at Infinitum Golf. It is Borja Martín, a professional from Gipuzkoa with whom he trains on many occasions. From Borja to Borja. They understand each other well. Martín knows Virto’s game perfectly and is helping him a lot on the greens. “I’ve always struggled to putt on these greens at Infinitum, and the truth is that this week I’m feeling much more comfortable… And it’s all thanks to Borja,” says the Navarrese.
Today he was also a key pillar on hole 2. Virto was coming from a rough patch in the round. He started with a bogey on the 14th (he started on the 10th), followed with another very painful one on the 16th, and capped it off with two very good saves for par on the 17th and 18th. “At that moment, I thought we wouldn’t finish,” he says with a smile. It seemed like night had fallen. In those moments, they reached the 2nd, a par 5, and Virto was eager to hit the driver to give himself a chance to reach the green in two. Martín, with coolness, took the idea out of his head. “Let’s play it like every day, to the green in three,” he said. That’s what they did, and they made a great birdie that wasn’t an eagle by a miracle. Virto’s third shot was exceptional.
The connection between the two is good and, for now, it’s working. Martín already helped him a lot in the second phase. “I remember a par 5 where I made a birdie, and it was all because of him. He chose the clubs, planned the shots, and it came out perfect… In fact, he told me, it’s the best birdie I’ve made in my life as a caddie,” he says laughing. For now, they are up there, in twelfth place, just before tackling the Lakes course, a course where Virto has always felt more uncomfortable than at the Hills. Maybe it’s time to change the story.
Sebas García (-9) continues to play golf very well. He’s hitting very good shots. Today he shot 71 at the Hills, and it really could have been a few less. From the 10th to the 18th, he had up to three putts of less than two metres that slipped away, one of them for eagle on the 16th. “The putt is very cold,” says the Madrilenian. You can imagine how well he’s playing from tee to green to be so high up with a discreet version on the greens. The key is in the long game and the wise advice given by his coach Pepín Rivero to always keep a cool head.
Lead for Molinari and 59 shots by Vince Van de Veen
Edoardo Molinari (-17) remains the standout leader of the Final Stage despite having signed a par round at the Hills. He has a four-shot advantage over second place. The best demonstration that today was played much more difficult. The man of the day, however, is the Dutchman Vince Van Veen (-8). He shot 59 at the Lakes course and moved from 148th in the standings to 22nd. In other words, he went from being out of contention to having a chance to earn a DP World Tour card. Golf at its finest. We’ll see how he handles the aftermath tomorrow.
