March 16, 2014 – Alejandro Cañizares completed a comprehensive wire-to-wire victory at the Trophée Hassan II to end an eight-year wait for a second European Tour title. The Spanish player, equipped by Ping for golf clubs and Colmar for clothing, led from the start with an opening 62 and completed a five shot win with a closing round of 70. A final round which was only disturbed by a inconsequential double bogey on the 18th.

The Malaga player began the last round with a six-shot lead over the English Seve Benson in the Golf du Palais Royal (Agadir, Morocco), and never saw his victory in danger. The Spaniard carded a 19 under par total, with England’s Andy Sullivan storming home in 29 shots for a best-of-the-day 63 to claim second place.

Cañizares won on only his third European Tour start at the 2006 Russian Open, but has had to wait 199 events for win number two – during which time he has been a runner-up four times. Victory completes an excellent six months for the 31 year old, who has not missed a cut since September. The run now stretches to 16 tournaments and includes three other top-ten finishes, and Cañizares was quick to target more titles.

“It’s been a long time since the last win,” Alejandro Cañizares said. “It felt like it was never coming but this week I played great, some of the best golf of my career. I hit good shot after good shot and kept my focus.”

“I was very accurate and solid with my irons. I left myself lots of chances and although I did not make all of them, the first day was the key. I putted great the first day, shot ten under and just kept pushing on.”

“Hopefully this is the first step for a little bit of improvement in my career. I have some stuff to work on and hopefully I improve little by little to the point where I can play golf as naturally as I did this week.”

This is also the first win of Alejandro Cañizares equipped by the Italian sportswear brand Colmar, with which the Spanish golfer signed in January 2014.

Pictures: Courtesy of Getty Images.

Por REDACCIÓN