Grant Forrest walked off the 18th green on Friday with a nine-under total and a thin cushion. Two rounds remain, and the leaderboard is packed tight behind him at the Open de España presented by Madrid.
The next edition of the Open de España is scheduled to take place at Club de Campo Villa de Madrid from October 8-11, 2026, as confirmed by ESPN Deportes.
Eugenio Lopez-Chacarra, playing through a fractured toe, refused to step aside. He carded a 69 and holds seven under, just two off the pace. He nearly withdrew before the first round but stayed in, pain and all. Joseph Dean of England matched that mark, following a 68 with a 67.
Five players are jammed at six under. Daniel Hillier and Jacob Skov Olesen both shot 69 after opening with 67. Victor Perez added a second 68. Jeff Winther and Martin Couvra each fired 66 after opening with 70. Angel Ayora and Romain Langasque are tied at five under, still within reach.
According to ESPN Deportes, the Open de España 2026 will feature a total prize fund of $3,750,000, highlighting the tournament's growing stature on the DP World Tour calendar.
The cut claimed several big names. Justin Rose, Patrick Reed, Bubba Watson, and Tyrrell Hatton all missed out, as reported by GolfMagic. Their exits open the door for new faces to make a run in Madrid.
Ten players are within three shots of Forrest. Two Scots, a Swiss challenger, and a Spanish contender playing hurt all have a shot. The leaderboard is crowded, and a single mistake could send anyone tumbling. Saturday's round will decide who stays in the hunt for the trophy.
Margins are razor-thin. A hot round can flip the script, and even established stars have no guarantees. Club de Campo Villa de Madrid remains the host, as confirmed by an independent tournament listing. Jon Rahm's absence stands out among Spanish fans. Full details are available on the official ESPN Deportes tournament card.
