Angel Hidalgo leading by 2 in Madrid

Angel Hidalgo made a great start in his home Open, carding a 6-under 65 featuring an eagle at the par-5 4th and three consecutive birdies from the 7th. He made two back-to-back bogeys from the 16th and takes a two-shot lead at the acciona Open de España.

“Unlucky the last few shots, two bad swings with the irons, but pretty happy and looking forward the next three days,” said Hidalgo.

“I holed an important (par) putt on number six, I think that was the key for the next three birdies – this course has this type of stretch that you can make a few birdies in a row.

“Obviously if I make three pars to finish I’d probably be more happy but yeah, it’s good.

“It’s different (playing at home), I’m not going to lie. You feel the love, you feel the support. Yeah, it’s incredible playing at home, and I wish that we could play more tournaments here.”

England’s Sam Bairstow eagled the par-5 7th and closed with a 67 for a share of second place at 4-under alongside France’s Julien Guerrier who also eagled the 7th and Austria’s Sepp Straka.

Jon Rahm and fellow Spaniard Adri Arnaus are tied in fifth place at 3-under alongside China’s Ashun Wu.

“I was telling somebody before the round, I think it was my family, just flying in yesterday afternoon, not having touched a club in a while, and between being sick and hospital beds, I was like, ‘with the wind forecast, if I could somehow break 75, I’ll be happy,” said Rahm.

“I kept putting it in play for the most part and giving myself good looks, made really good par putts on six and 11 that saved the round. Had a great finish and I find myself with a great score that is rather, I would say, unexpected.”

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