After Ryder Cup snub, Adrian Meronk wins Andalucia Masters

In a stunning turn of events, Adrian Meronk, who was not selected for the Ryder Cup, silenced his critics by capturing his third victory of the season in the Andalucia Masters. The Polish player, determined to prove his worth, overcame a rocky start to card a remarkable 6-under 66 in the final round at the Real Club de Golf Sotogrande in Spain. With a tournament score of 16 under, Meronk secured a one-stroke victory over Matti Schmid (71).

Meronk’s slow start was quickly forgotten as he made two eagles on the front nine, including a remarkable hole-out from 121 yards on the par-4 ninth hole. He continued his stellar performance on the back nine, adding four birdies, including a crucial one on the par-3 17th that ultimately sealed his well-deserved win.

Clearly determined to make a statement after being left out of the Ryder Cup team, Meronk stated, “I’m just glad the Ryder Cup and all the talks about it are over. I can just focus on my game and keep going forward, and whoever doubted me, I hope I can prove them wrong.” This victory makes Meronk the first three-time winner this season on the DP World Tour, while also propelling him to third place in the Race to Dubai rankings.

It was a nail-biting finish as Richard Mansell of England came within two shots of the lead, only to stumble with a bogey on the 17th hole. Joint third-round leader Schmid, along with Mansell, was seeking his first win on the DP World Tour, but his hopes were dashed with a bogey on the 16th hole and a missed birdie putt on the 18th.

American Chase Hanna also had a standout performance, shooting a flawless 66 to secure a tie for fourth place at 13 under and ensure his DP World Tour card for the next season. Reflecting on his achievement, Hanna said, “It’s been a long year, and it’s special to have a round like today when it meant as much as it did.”

Wyndham Clark, the U.S. Open champion, had a less successful outing, closing with a 2-over 74 to finish at 1 under for the tournament. Matt Kuchar tied for 19th place with a score of 8 under, just ahead of Robert MacIntyre.

The Andalucia Masters marked the final tournament of the year in continental Europe, with the tour now heading to South Africa before culminating in the season-ending tournament in Dubai.