Otaegui reigns in Spain as McKibbin continues card push
CADIZ, SPAIN - OCTOBER 16: Adrian Otaegui of Spain poses for a photograph as they celebrate with the Andalucia Masters Trophy on day four of the Estrella Damm N.A. Andalucía Masters at Real Club Valderrama on October 16, 2022 in Cadiz, Spain. (Photo by Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images)
The DP World Tour's social media team could ignore Spain's Adrian Otaegui as he became the first LIV player to win on the European circuit.
The Basque (29) set a new tournament record when he cruised to a six-shot win on 19-under in the Estrella Damm N.A. Andalucía Masters at Valderrama.
As a player who's played three LIV Golf events (winning $1.04m), he was suspended before joining others in filing an injunction that allowed him to play July’s Scottish Open.
With the course case still months away, the DP World Tour has been forced to allow eligible LIV Golf members to play its events but avoided giving them much publicity.
Otaegui gleaned just one tweet from the Tour on Saturday, despite firing a seven-under 64 to take a six-shot lead into the final round, prompting Lee Westwood to tweet: "Is @adrianotaegui leading? And by 6! Wouldn't know would you. Good luck today Adrian".
He didn't need it as he closed with a three-under 68 to win his fourth DP World Tour event from Sweden's Joaquim Lagergren and jump from 158th to 95th in the world.
Meanwhile, Holywood teenager Tom McKibbin (19) closed with a seven-under 65 to tie for fourth on 18-under in the Challenge Tour's English Trophy at Frilford Heath.
His sixth top-10 of the season keeps alive his chances of winning one of 20 DP World Tour cards at next month's Grand Final.
He remains 15th in the Road to Mallorca Rankings after finishing just four shots behind German's Jeremy Freiburghaus, who moved to number one after overcoming Max Schmitt in a playoff.
The top 45 made the Grand Final and McKibbin will be joined in Mallorca in a fortnight by Kinsale's John Murphy (24), who qualified in 42nd despite closing with a 73 to tie for 35th on 12-under with 64th-ranked Conor Purcell, who shot 71, while Ruaidhri McGee missed out in 48th after missing the cut.
JEDDAH, SAUDI ARABIA - OCTOBER 16: Team Captain Brooks Koepka of Smash GC celebrates winning on the 18th green, the third playoff hole, during day three of the LIV Golf Invitational - Jeddah at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club on October 16, 2022 in King Abdullah Economic City, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Charles Laberge/LIV Golf via Getty Images)
In Japan, an emotional Keegan Bradley (36) won for the first time in more than four years when he birded the 17th for a two-under 68 and a one-shot win over Andrew Putnam (68) and Rickie Fowler (70) on 15-under in the ZOZO Championship.
Brooks Koepka was also emotional as he won for the first time in nearly two years when he beat Peter Uihlein at the third extra hole to secure the $4 million top prize in the LIV Golf Invitational Jeddah.
"The last two years have been tough," Koepka said of his injury battles. "It's been a long road and I didn't know if my career was over for a half-second. I mean, I told Claude (his coach) I'm not sure if I'm ever going to be able to play, so it's nice to come back and be able to win."
On the PGA Tour Champions, Pádraig Harrington made six birdies but was left to rue a triple-bogey seven at the 16th in a three-under 69 that left him tied 22nd in the clubhouse on four-under in the SAS Championship in Florida.
Harrington was projected to remain second in the Charles Schwab Cup race heading into the Playoffs with Darren Clarke, who was 30th in the clubhouse on three-under, in 15th and safely among the top 72 who make the first event, next week’s Dominion Energy Charity Classic,
On Saturday, Leona Maguire tied for 18th in the LET’s Armaco Team Series-New York, 10 shots behind Lexi Thompson.
