Golf legend Gary Player famously said, “I despise those who glory in second place. You go home with a silver medal, and only your wife and dog love you – if you have a good wife and a good dog.”
Gary Player’s words reveal the harsh reality of golf: a year later, it’s not your looks but your expertise that etches a memory, as people recall your runner-up finish.
So when Adrian Otaegui entered the media center at the Volvo China Open for his champion press conference on Sunday, not a single journalist asked about his deep connection to the event or his past participations – until he mentioned it himself.
Otaegui shared, “I approached this tournament with immense confidence, having played Shenzhen Ingot many times and performing well. Ten years ago, in 2014, I started on Saturday from the final group.”
In 2014, when the Volvo China Open first landed in Shenzhen Ingot, Otaegui was trailing French player Alexander Levy by four strokes after two rounds, sitting in second place. On Saturday, he teed off as the last group’s third member, ultimately finishing three behind Levy, in third position.
Otaegui’s podium history extends beyond third place at the Volvo China Open; he also claimed second in 2018, when the tournament took place in Yanshui Lake, Beijing. He was one stroke behind Swedish player Alexander Bjork.
Chinese media, let alone fans, might have overlooked Otaegui’s achievements due to the long absence of the DP World Tour in the country. The Volvo China Open marked China’s first World One-level tournament in five years.
But from May 5th, it’s likely that many will remember Otaegui’s name, as he delivered an unforgettable performance at their national open, witnessed by countless fans both on-site and through screens.
His opponent, Swedish golfer Sebastian Soderberg, was the most consistent player in the Asian Swing competition, having consecutive runner-up finishes in India and Japan. Heading to Shenzhen as the top-ranked competitor, he started strong with a 63 on Thursday and a 65 on Friday, seemingly set to dominate the final round.
However, a rain-shortened Saturday disrupted the schedule, and Soderberg lost his lead when he bogeyed the first hole after a rest day. He eventually fell behind after just three holes in the final round, despite putting up a valiant fight.
Soderberg showed resilience, staying near the top throughout, and briefly regained the solo lead with a birdie on the 13th hole, which brought him to 18-under par. But a dropped shot on the 15th hole made for a dramatic finish.
Meanwhile, Otaegui, playing earlier, had already established himself with five birdies in the first 13 holes, including a long putt conversion at the fourth and a four-footer at the eighth. His crucial late-game play included an eagle on the 17th, where he holed out from over 200 feet.
Despite Soderberg’s late surge, he couldn’t secure victory. He bogeyed the 16th and tied Otaegui with a birdie on the 17th, needing a birdie on the 18th to win or a par to force a playoff.
On the 18th, Soderberg missed a birdie putt, leaving him with a lengthy putt for a playoff. A subsequent double-bogey after a poor tee shot sealed his third-place finish, while Otaegui, finally victorious, beamed with joy. After numerous close calls at the Volvo China Open, he achieved his dream, donning the golden suit and lifting the Nordic Horizon trophy.
Soderberg didn’t add another runner-up to his collection, as Italian player Guido Migliozzi made a thrilling last-hole push, securing second place with a long putt.
Otaegui’s triumph secured him a spot in the US PGA Championship, as the Volvo China Open’s outcome for the first time linked directly to a major. Soderberg also earned a Valhalla ticket, boosting his earnings by $200,000 atop the $116,550 third-place prize money from the Asian Swing.
Yet, there was a tinge of disappointment. As the opening quote suggests, only experts would remember a runner-up finish a year later, let alone a third-place finish. However, there’s hope for both players, as the 30th Volvo China Open remains DP World Tour-verified, offering a chance for redemption in 2023, like Otaegui, to etch their names in the hearts of Chinese golf enthusiasts.