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‘Fairytale stuff': Pro's hard year ends with ticket to 2027 Masters

Grant Forrest’s long-awaited journey to Augusta National finally began this week after a decade of setbacks and perseverance. The Scottish golfer, who nearly earned a Masters exemption as an amateur in 2015 after losing the Amateur Championship final to Romain Langasque, turned professional and spent years climbing the ranks from the Challenge Tour to the DP World Tour.

His first professional win came at the 2021 Hero Open, followed by a second victory four years later at the 2025 Nexo Championship. Despite two Open Championship and one U.S.

Open appearances, Forrest had never reached Augusta—until now. Struggling through a difficult 2026 season with just one top-10 finish and no results better than 63rd since June, Forrest entered the Open de España in Madrid with little expectation of a breakthrough.

Yet after opening with three rounds in the mid-60s and sharing the 54-hole lead, he rallied from a slow start on Sunday to tie for the lead before sinking a clutch birdie at the 18th to secure his first DP World Tour win outside Scotland. The victory not only capped a remarkable comeback but also earned him a spot in the 2027 Masters, fulfilling a dream deferred for over a decade.

Forrest’s resilience defined his season, as he overcame a stretch of inconsistent play to deliver a masterful final round. His drive on the 18th, landing in the rough beside Victor Perez’s tee shot, set up a critical moment: after Perez missed a nine-foot birdie attempt, Forrest’s five-foot chip and a composed birdie putt sealed the win.

The triumph was bittersweet, as it came after years of near-misses, including his amateur final loss and a career marked by close calls at major championships. Forrest called the achievement ‘fairytale stuff,’ a sentiment shared by fans who had followed his journey from near-exemption to eventual glory.

With his name now on the 2027 Masters invitation list, Forrest’s story—one of patience, determination, and redemption—continues to unfold on the world stage.

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