Nacho Elvira Explained

Nacho Elvira
Fullname:Ignacio Elvira Mijares
Birth Date:17 February 1987
Birth Place:Madrid, Spain
Weight:82kg (181lb)
College:Texas A&M University
Yearpro:2011
Tour:European Tour
Extour:Challenge Tour
Prowins:6
Eurowins:2
Chalwins:4
Masters:DNP
Usopen:DNP
Open:CUT: 2023, 2024
Pga:DNP
Award1:European Tour
Graduate of the Year
Year1:2016

Ignacio "Nacho" Elvira Mijares (born 17 February 1987) is a Spanish professional golfer who plays on the European Tour.

Amateur career

Elvira played college golf at Texas A&M University where he won one event and was a two-time All-American.[1] [2]

Professional career

Elvira played on the Challenge Tour in 2012 and 2013, finishing 104th and then 14th. He won his first title in 2013 at The Foshan Open in China,[3] and finished 14th in the Order of Merit to gain a place on the 2014 European Tour.

After a mediocre 2014 European Tour season in which he finished 121st, he returned to the Challenge Tour for 2015, where he won three times to earn an immediate return to the European Tour.

Since 2016 he has played on the European Tour. He lost a playoff at the 2016 Trophée Hassan II to Wang Jeung-hun. In 2019, he lost in another sudden death playoff to Scott Hend at the Maybank Championship. He had held the 54-hole lead but went to the last hole of regulation play, one stroke behind Hend. During his approach to the 18th, a clap of thunder occurred during his backswing, resulting in him leaving a 30 foot putt for birdie. Play was then suspended for over an hour, but Elvira came back to sink the lengthy birdie putt to force a playoff. He lost on the first extra hole, when Hend made an up and down from the bunker for birdie.

In July 2021, Elvira beat Justin Harding in a playoff to win the Cazoo Open for his first European Tour victory.[4]

He moved to a career best 126th in the Official World Golf Ranking in February 2017.

Amateur wins

Professional wins (6)

European Tour wins (2)

No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin of
victory
Runner(s)-up
125 Jul 2021Cazoo Open−16 (64-67-66-71=268)Playoff Justin Harding
226 May 2024Soudal Open−18 (64-64-67-71=266)1 stroke Romain Langasque, Niklas Nørgaard,
Thomas Pieters

European Tour playoff record (1–3)

No.YearTournamentOpponentResult
12016Trophée Hassan II Wang Jeung-hunLost to birdie on second extra hole
22019Maybank Championship Scott HendLost to birdie on first extra hole
32021Cazoo Open Justin HardingWon with par on first extra hole
42023Made in HimmerLand Rasmus HøjgaardLost to par on sixth extra hole

Challenge Tour wins (4)

No.DateTournamentWinning scoreMargin of
victory
Runner(s)-up
120 Oct 2013Foshan Open−14 (68-68-66-72=274)1 stroke Tyrrell Hatton, Shiv Kapur,
Sam Walker
225 Apr 2015Challenge de Madrid−21 (66-68-66-67=267)4 strokes Ricardo Gouveia, Ruaidhri McGee
324 May 2015Kärnten Golf Open−21 (64-67-67-65=263)1 stroke Jens Dantorp
422 Aug 2015Rolex Trophy−24 (63-65-69-67=264)2 strokes Ricardo Gouveia

Results in major championships

Tournament20232024
Masters Tournament
PGA Championship
U.S. Open
The Open ChampionshipCUTCUT
CUT = missed the half-way cut

Team appearances

Amateur

Source:[5]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Nacho Elvira profile . Texas A&M . https://web.archive.org/web/20131023060231/http://www.aggieathletics.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=27300&ATCLID=205236072 . 23 October 2013.
  2. Web site: Texas A&M Men's Golf – History/Records . 22 October 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131023061557/http://www.aggieathletics.com/fls/27300/pdfs/2013-14/mgolf/records-mgolf.pdf?SPSID=632693&SPID=93239&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=27300 . 23 October 2013 . dead .
  3. News: Elvira claims maiden win at Foshan Open . Miami Herald . 20 October 2013 . 22 October 2013.
  4. News: Elvira wins maiden title after dramatic day in Wales . European Tour . 25 July 2021 . 25 July 2021.
  5. Web site: European Amateur Team Championships, Results . 19 October 2015 . European Golf Association . 7 May 2021.