Adrien Saddier (-14) has experienced the best day of his professional career this Sunday. At 33 years old, he has claimed his first victory on the DP World Tour and, in doing so, has qualified to play in his first Major. He will do so in three weeks at Royal Portrush. The Open Championship. His big breakthrough.
Saddier won the Open de Italia because he deserved it more than anyone. He played better than anyone. He outperformed everyone in a very exciting final round that was even nerve-wracking at times. He started as the underdog, with Martin Couvra and Eugenio Chacarra leading the way. In the early holes at the Argentario Golf Club, it seemed like a head-to-head between Couvra and Chacarra, although Saddier never really fell behind.
From the 7th hole, the situation began to change. Chacarra and Couvra, especially the Spaniard, started getting into trouble. It’s very easy to get into trouble on this beautiful yet strange Italian course. They stumbled while Saddier grew stronger. In the last nine holes, he left no chance. He played exceptional golf. He made five birdies between the 10th and 16th and sealed the tournament. Why at that moment and in that way? Why had he never been able to play like this before in his career? Surely, Saddier himself is asking these same questions…
In a way, Saddier has done a Pavon today. Their stories are similar. Both were born in 1992, they are from the same generation. Adrien is just six months older than Matthieu. Neither had particularly shone before winning their first tournament. When Pavon won the Open de España in 2023, his golf was on an upward trajectory, but that victory wasn’t a result of consistently putting himself in a position to win week after week. He climbed the steps gradually until everything exploded at the Club de Campo Villa de Madrid.
Saddier’s story is similar. Precisely in 2023, perhaps influenced in some way by Pavon’s victory, he began to improve his level. He stopped being an elevator player between the DP World Tour and the Challenge Tour and established himself in the top division. That year he finally kept his card without problems, in 2024 he improved even more and finished close to the Dubai Final, and this year he was doing even better, ranking among the top 40. All step by step. Until he exploded with this victory.
It remains to be seen how far he goes now. Achieving what Pavon did seems very difficult. Remember that in that same 2023, he secured the PGA Tour card and by 2024 had already won the Farmers Insurance Open on the American circuit. We’ll see. For now, he is fully in the fight for the PGA Tour card. He is tenth in the Race to Dubai. The difference with Pavon, which is not insignificant, is that he did all this two years earlier and his progression was somewhat more gradual than Saddier’s, whose fortunes changed in that 2023. For example, Matthieu had already played four Majors before winning the Open de España, while Adrien will make his debut in these events next month. It will be interesting to see where he goes.
Martin Couvra (-11) couldn’t win this time, but he shouldn’t be too hard on himself. He fought like a warrior, tried his best, was aggressive, held on until the last stretch, but ultimately succumbed to an exceptional Saddier. In return, he doesn’t leave Tuscany empty-handed. He takes the second spot for the Open Championship. It will also be his debut in the Majors. However, he is only 22 years old. He will play a major before a Rolex Series. Curious. Additionally, he is third in the Race to Dubai. That is, he is on the fast track to his ascent to the PGA Tour. It won’t be easy to take one of the ten cards offered by the European circuit.
It wasn’t a great Sunday for the Spaniards. Eugenio Chacarra (-8) fought for the victory and the spot in the Open until the last holes. The Madrid native played like clockwork in the first seven holes, better than anyone, but a bad shot on the 6th hole knocked him off course. He never played as well again. He made birdies because they come naturally to him, but he was erratic both from the tee and the fairway. He seemed somewhat anxious, probably not so much about winning, something he already knows, but about getting into the Open. It happened to him in the US Open qualifier and now again. He is eager to play Majors, and it may be playing tricks on him. At least, he can try to redeem himself in the 36-hole qualifier on Tuesday. He still has that opportunity to play the Open, as well as the Scottish Open, which also qualifies. Similarly, he strengthens his fight for one of the PGA Tour cards. He is 15th in the Race to Dubai.
Ángel Ayora (-8) finished tied with Chacarra in seventh place. Two valuable top 10s for the Armada. The feeling with the Andalusian is different. He wasn’t really comfortable in the early holes and fell out of the fight for victory early on. There may also be some anxiety. In his case, to win and secure one of the PGA Tour cards. In any case, much credit must be given to his way of holding on without being at his best level. The birdies were elusive, but he didn’t lose patience and kept fighting. He needed to leave them a bit closer, but at least he received the final reward on the 18th. The only birdie of the day to finish in seventh place and get back into the top 40 of the Race to Dubai. Like Chacarra, he has the chance in the Tuesday qualifiers to get into the Open.
Additionally, a good day for Manu Elvira (-5). A round of 67 to secure a top 20 and gain positions in the Race. Meanwhile, Rafa Cabrera Bello (-4) secured a 21st place that should feel like glory considering how the week started. A bad day for the rest: Iván Cantero (-2) shot 73, Albert Boneta (-1) shot 72, Ángel Hidalgo (PAR) also played over par, Jorge Campillo (PAR) shot 70, and Alfredo García Heredia (+13) had a day to forget.
