The roadmap was unfolding just as Ángel Hidalgo had planned. Anything under par in the first 18 holes was to be signed off. He shot 71. One under par. It was good. He started the second round on the 10th and on the 18th saved a magnificent par with a tricky putt of just over two metres. The kind you have to make. Treacherous. Right after, he stepped onto the 1st tee, hit a textbook drive, a great shot to the green, and a five-metre birdie putt.
Right there, on that walk to the green, he told Gonzalo Vicente, his caddie: “Win, we’re at -2, to get into the Open we need to reach -5. I’m telling you now: we’re in the Open. There’s no human way I won’t finish at least at -5 in the holes we have left.” He made a birdie on the 1st (yes, he made the 5-metre putt), another on the 3rd, with two putts, and an eagle on the 5th. Total: -6. He will be at Royal Portrush. Qualified for the Open for the second consecutive year and in the same qualifier: Dundonald Links. “I’ve already submitted an application to the DP World Tour to bring the Scottish Open to this course,” he tells Ten Golf with his usual flair.
Why was he so sure? Very simple. “Because I was hitting the ball at a godlike level,” he confesses with that unique humour. The man from Málaga was eager to have a joy of this calibre. “We’ve had a crappy year, just like that, no half measures. I’m tired of finishing 30th or worse. I’m hitting well, but things aren’t working out. It was a pleasure that today it finally came together and at such a moment. I’ve been very in control. Very happy. After the eagle, in the last four holes, I didn’t suffer. Four easy pars came out. The longest birdie putt I had was five metres,” he explains.
Hidalgo played very well and putted brilliantly. He struggled to get used to the speed of the greens and a few three-putts happened, but there’s not much to reproach. “I changed my putter in the Netherlands and I’m much more comfortable on the greens. Also, a couple of weeks ago I took some aim point lessons with Marta Prieto in Sotogrande, along with my coach Jordi García del Moral, and I really liked it. I feel like I’m hitting the ball very well, which is very important.”
Ángel will play the Open for the second consecutive year, although he is convinced that the experience will be radically different. “Last year I ran headlong into the Open. I came from the United States, arrived late, didn’t have time to get to grips with anything, couldn’t prepare well, but this time it’s going to be very different. The week before I play the Scottish Open, so I’ll be there from Monday. This time I’m really going to experience the Open from start to finish, to enjoy it. I’m really looking forward to it,” he concludes.
