Forrest and Dean Tied for Open de España Lead After 54 Holes
Grant Forrest and Joe Dean are tied for the Open de España lead at 13-under after three rounds. Forrest recovered from a mid-round slide, while Dean bounced back from a double bogey and bogey with a 31-foot birdie on the last hole. Joel Girrbach, Victor Perez, and Jacob Skov Olesen are one shot behind.
Forrest, who led or shared the lead after each of the first two rounds, is seeking a third DP World Tour victory and a start-to-finish win in Madrid. He briefly moved two ahead early Saturday before a mid-round slide left him chasing Dean.
Dean made eight birdies to reach three clear, then double-bogeyed the 16th and bogeyed the 17th before a 31-foot birdie at the last restored a share of first. Girrbach, Perez and Olesen trail by one at 12 under.
A tight final round could draw more attention to the DP World Tour and the Open de España, potentially benefiting Madrid through spectators, tourism, and media coverage. For players, a win may boost rankings, sponsorship, and career opportunities, while fans could enjoy a compelling Sunday finish. The outcome may also affect interest in Spanish golf, especially after Jon Rahm’s past success there, though any social or economic effects would likely be modest and short-term.