Alejandro del Rey acknowledged in his initial statements as the brand-new winner on the DP World Tour that he was still coming to terms with the success, but that he would need a bit more time to enjoy it fully. These have been his reflections after the victory:
Hard work behind this first victory on the European circuit. “It’s incredible. I’m very happy. Honestly, I’ve been working very hard over the last two years to win golf tournaments again and to be able to put myself in a position to win a golf tournament. So doing it at the first opportunity I’ve given myself feels really good.”
His feelings in the last and decisive round. “I’m very pleased, I played very well. I think I kept calm throughout the round. I tried my best. I didn’t want, after a really good start, for Marcus to get too close. I wanted him to feel like he had no chance. So that’s what I tried to do. I was focused all day and kept playing very well hole by hole. It was incredible.”
Calmer on Sunday than on Saturday. “Today I kept calm all day. I also think that the good start, with several birdies, helped me to be a bit calmer. And nothing, very happy with my game. It was up to the mark, I think, all week. And today was a bonus because I think I wasn’t nervous, I was calm, I played well and, well, I put a lot of pressure on Marcus so he wouldn’t feel like he had chances today. I think I was more nervous on Saturday than today Sunday. I think on Saturday I wanted to put myself in a good position and I was behind, and today Sunday it all felt very natural, very calm, I was very comfortable, on the first tee also more comfortable than yesterday. And with that, with what I said before, with the birdies at the start and a couple of good shots around the course at the beginning of the round, I think I didn’t feel that pressure that maybe many other players feel on a Sunday.”
Last week missed the cut in Dubai… “Yes, it was tough last week because after a great job, a good pre-season, you arrive in Dubai and it seems like you hit a wall. I had a lot of confidence in my game. I felt I was hitting it very well and that almost all areas of the game were in a good moment… But sometimes it happens, you miss the cut and feel a bit down over the weekend. So, yes, I’m very happy to have come here and to have shown what I’ve worked so hard for this winter.”
Trying to come to terms with the joy of victory. “I haven’t come to terms with it yet. I think I’m still, as if I were on the golf course, fighting tooth and nail. Therefore, I’m still focused on what I’m doing at this moment. I think as soon as I stop for about ten minutes, I’ll start to enjoy it more.”
