Rafael Nadal celebrates Spanish golfer Angel Hidalgo's maiden DP World Tour win with a sweet message as he beats compatriot Jon Rahm
Rafael Nadal’s sporting talents are undeniable when it comes to tennis, but he is also an ardent fan of golf. Recently, the Spaniard took some time to congratulate compatriot Angel Hidalgo on claiming his maiden DP World Tour win.
Hidalgo recently competed at the Acciona Open de España, entering the tournament as the World No. 398. However, the 26-year-old stunned his home crowd as he advanced to the finals, setting up a clash with former World No.1 and two-time Major winner Jon Rahm. Hidalgo overcame Rahm in the finals to win his first-ever DP World Tour event, and his achievement did not go unnoticed.
Nadal, an ardent golfer himself, took to Instagram to congratulate Angel Hidalgo, runner-up Rahm, and third-place finisher David Puig, writing,
“Congratulations champion! And what a trio, spectacular!”
Rafael Nadal on how he approaches golf
Away from the tennis court, Rafael Nadal often spends his time on the golf course. However, while his skills on the court are unrivaled, his golf swing has often given him grief, being criticized by fans and fellow tennis players alike.
In an interview with GOLFTV, the Spaniard revealed that he's never received an official golf lesson in his life, but tries to avoid doing ‘stupid’ things on the course.
“I never received a listen, a golf lesson, in my life. So I am handicapped really, more or less, without having a single lesson in my career. So I just try to find ways to compete well, with the bad swing I have, I know I have a very bad swing. But I try to find a way to put (the) ball in the middle, try to play not many shots, try to not do stupid things on the golf course.”
He went on to add that despite his mistakes, he finds a way to enjoy the sport and strives to get better at it.
“When I'm (making) mistakes I try to see myself and know what's going on, and try to change the bad things I am doing. And for sure, when I am changing the thing, I am not changing them the right way, like a coach would do it, but I find a way to enjoy and to play a little bit better.”
While his swing may have been the subject of some discussion, Rafael Nadal isn't all that bad at golf. In June, after an early exit from the French Open, the 38-year-old won the 2024 Nations Cup, an amateur tournament held in his hometown of Mallorca.