Alejandro Del Rey cruised to the biggest win of his career by closing out a dominant four-shot victory at the DP World Tour’s Ras Al Khaimah Championship.
Del Rey took a two-shot lead into the final day at Al Hamra GC in the United Arab Emirates and never relinquished control, birdieing three of his opening five holes to immediately pull clear of the chasing pack.
The Spaniard closed out a bogey-free 66 to end the week on 22 under and claim a maiden DP World Tour title, as England’s Marcus Armitage – playing alongside Del Rey and Jason Scrivener – carded a four-under 68 to finish runner-up.
Five birdies in the last six holes saw David Puig register a round-of-the-day 65 and jump into third place ahead of Scrivener, with England’s Joe Dean ended tied-fifth with Ivan Cantero and Sebastian Soderberg.
Former Masters champion Patrick Reed ended in the group tied-eighth that contains Scotland’s Scott Jamieson, while Adrian Saddier’s final-round 68 included a stunning hole-in-one at the par-three seventh.
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Frenchman Adrien Saddier made a hole-in-one at the par-three seventh during the final round of the DP World Tour’s Ras Al Khaimah Championship.
How Del Rey closed out Middle East victory
Del Rey birdied the first and fired his approach to tap-in range at the second, with a 10-foot birdie at the par-four fifth giving him a five-shot cushion and complete control of the tournament.
Armitage opened with six straight pars but posted back-to-back birdies from the seventh to close within three of Del Rey at the turn, only for his playing partner to extend his lead by chipping in from the 11th green.
Del Rey recovered from a wayward drive at the par-four next to find the green in regulation and hole from 50 feet for an unlikely birdie, then moved six ahead when he added another at the 13th and Armitage failed to match his effort.
Armitage took advantage of the par-five 14th to reduce the deficit but could not get close to Del Rey, who closed out his bogey-free round with a tap-in par before being greeted by multiple Spanish players on the 18th green.
“It’s amazing,” Del Rey said. “I got to a point last year where I felt like I wasn’t having that much fun on the course, because – for me – just playing for 20th, 30th place wasn’t that meaningful.
“I worked my a*** really since then because I just didn’t want to be in that position much longer. I feel like I played for many years with a lot of friends who have won out here and I know I could do it, it just wasn’t showing up. I’m just happy that it finally came.”
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Armitage rolled in from 10 feet at the par-five last to complete a four-under 68 and post his best finish on the DP World Tour since the 2023 Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.
“Alejandro was fantastic today,” Armitage said. “I battled hard but didn’t really get it going early doors, which put me behind the eight ball. I’ve played well, I’ve broken down a few barriers that I didn’t think I could do and I’m proud of myself.
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“It wasn’t my weekend but I’m sure there will be some in the future – it has been good! The points that I’ve picked up today means I can plan my schedule a bit clearer, spend a bit more time at home and just build on it.”
What’s next?
The DP World Tour stays in the Middle East for the Bapco Energies Bahrain Championship, held at Royal GC in the Kingdom of Bahrain and the latest event in the ‘International Swing’. Live coverage begins on Thursday from 8.30am on Sky Sports Golf. Get Sky Sports or stream with no contract on NOW.
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