DP World Tour: Daniel Hillier Wins BMW with Hole-in-One at Open de España
Daniel Hillier secures BMW iX5 with hole-in-one at Open de España
Daniel Hillier won a 140,338-euro all-electric BMW iX5 SUV on Thursday after hitting a hole-in-one on the 17th hole during the opening round of the Open de España presented by Madrid, the DP World Tour reported. The 28-year-old New Zealander aced the 187-yard par-3 despite a mishit with his 8-iron, finishing the day with a 4-under 67 to tie for fourth place.
Mishit on the 17th Produces an Unexpected Ace
Hillier admitted he was unsatisfied with his swing mechanics on the tee. “To be honest, I toed it quite a bit. Wasn’t too happy with the strike,” he said. The ball hung in the air longer than expected, pitched pin-high, and took one hop to the left before dropping into the cup. Because the bottom of the hole was obscured from the tee box, Hillier realized the shot went in only when spectators in the grandstand jumped to their feet.
The vehicle was designated exclusively for the first player to record a hole-in-one on that specific hole during the week. Hillier noted he was unaware the car was on offer prior to his shot. The prize carries an approximate value of $157,000 USD, leaving the golfer contemplating the logistics of transporting his new SUV back to New Zealand.
Opening Round Leaders and Contenders in Madrid
The tournament’s opening day at the Club de Campo Villa de Madrid featured tight competition at the top of the leaderboard. Grant Forrest, Connor Syme, and Eugenio Chacarra shared the first-round lead after carding 5-under 66s. Sergio Garcia sat one stroke back among the chasing group, while Hillier’s 67 placed him in a tie for fourth alongside several other competitors.
Building on a Strong Season
The ace adds to a strong stretch of golf for Hillier, who captured his national open in March shortly after getting married. He estimated the shot was the fifth hole-in-one of his career. With the opening round concluded, Hillier sits three shots behind the leaders heading into Friday’s second round of the European Tour event.
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