Eddie Pepperell finishes strong as Jon Rahm wins Spanish Open

The Frilford Heath member rounded off the tournament 12 shots behind winner Jon Rahm, with the home favourite securing a third Spanish Open title.

Pepperell finished the final day with a bogey on the first hole, before birdies on holes seven and eight.

Bogeys on holes 10 and 12 followed, before a third birdie on the penultimate hole left him on par.

He was four-under par after the first and third round, with a five-under par display sandwiched between in the second round.

Thanks to @accionaopen for a cracking week here in Madrid! 😍 Disappointing day for me today, I was not good. Big @JonRahmpga however… 🔥👏🏼 what a player and what a fantastic atmosphere, so thank you for playing. 💪🏼👍 Can’t wait to come back next year. 👌🏼

— Eddie Pepperell (@PepperellEddie) October 9, 2022

Rahm carded an eagle and eight birdies to finish 25-under par and become the first three-time winner of the Spanish Open since Seve Ballesteros.

Ballesteros, who died in 2011, won his national open in 1981, 1985 and 1995.

Rahm, who will go from sixth to fifth in the world rankings, finished six shots clear of France’s Matthieu Pavon.

For Pepperell, it followed a successful Alfred Dunhill Links Championship in Scotland, where he finished 28th, nine shots behind winner Ryan Fox, of New Zealand.

Pepperell did manage a hole in one though, on a wet and windy second day.

The 31-year-old is next in action again in Spain, when he competes at the Mallorca Golf Open, between October 20 and 23.