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Alvaro Quiros wins Open de España

Sunday, 2 May 2010
Fergus Bisset
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Alvaro Quiros

Alvaro Quiros became the first home winner of the Spanish Open since Sergio Garcia in 2002 by beating England's James Morrison in a playoff at Real Club de Golf de Sevilla.

The long-hitting 27-year-old was the highest ranked player in the field and he lived up to his billing as favourite, claiming his fourth European Tour title.

Quiros began the final round trailing another Englishman Mark Foster by three strokes but that deficit was quickly lessened to one as the Spaniard made two birdies on the front nine. Foster dropped away with two bogeys on the run for home though he remained in a host of players who had the chance to take the title right up to the tournament's climax.

As it was, Quiros and Morrison finished tied at the top on 11-under-par after 72 holes so sudden-death was required. The pair returned to the difficult 18th tee and both hit good tee shots to the middle of the fairway. Morrison then caught his second shot slightly fat and pulled it into the water hazard. Quiros fired in close and two-putted to comfortably take the victory.

"I think it's one of the most important things in my life for sure," said the Spaniard. "To be the winner of your Open is something really, really great - with The Ryder Cup and the World Cup it's the best three things in golf for me."

Despite losing out Morrison was delighted with his runner's up finish. He only narrowly secured his European Tour playing rights for this season but has already notched up a victory, a second, fourth and sixth. "I'm loving every minute of it, he said."

Open de España
Real Club de Golf de Sevilla, Spain
April 29 - May 2, purse €2,000,000, par 72

1   Alvaro Quiros (Esp)   68   72   67   70   277   €333,330
2   James Morrison (Eng)   73   67   70   67   277   €222,220
T3   Alejandro Canizares (Esp) 71   69   70   68   278   €103,333
T3   Raphael Jacquelin (Fra)   69   67   71   71   278   €103,333
T3   Mark Foster (Eng)   69   66   69   74   278   €103,333
T6   Paul Waring (Eng)   66   75   72   66   279   €56,200
T6   Paul Lawrie (Sco)       74   67   71   67   279   €56,200
T6   Nicolas Colsaerts (Bel)   71   66   72   70   279   €56,200
T6   Stephen Dodd (Wal)   69   68   71   71   279   €56,200