Argentina’s Mateo Pulcini created one of the most memorable moments of the opening round at The Open Championship after draining a spectacular 40-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole before celebrating with a gesture that immediately reminded fans of Argentina’s recent World Cup triumph over England.
The amateur golfer, competing at Royal Birkdale as the only Argentine in the field, cupped his ears toward the grandstand in a celebration made famous by Enzo Fernandez after scoring against England in Argentina’s World Cup semi-final victory just hours earlier.
Despite the pointed reference, Pulcini was met with loud applause from many spectators gathered around the closing hole.
Crowd Responds with Cheers Instead of Hostility
Television commentators noted the warm reception from the English crowd, joking that many supporters “hadn’t quite worked out where he was from” as applause echoed around the 18th green.
Pulcini later admitted he had anticipated a less welcoming atmosphere because of the football result but said the reaction from fans exceeded his expectations.
He revealed that a handful of boos greeted him on the opening tee, but insisted he enjoyed the atmosphere and viewed it as part of the sporting experience.
According to the Argentine, spectators remained supportive throughout the day despite his difficult round.
Birdie Offers Bright Spot in Difficult Opening Round
The memorable finish provided welcome relief after an otherwise frustrating start to Pulcini’s championship.
He completed his opening round at five-over par, with the birdie on the final hole standing out as the highlight of an otherwise disappointing scorecard.
Reflecting on the closing putt, Pulcini explained that the emotional reaction came naturally after sinking such a lengthy attempt.
He stressed that the celebration was inspired by the excitement of the moment rather than an intention to mock England’s defeat.
He added that he had not planned to mix football with golf, but the magnitude of the putt prompted the spontaneous tribute to Fernandez.
Football Victory Still Tops Golfing Moment
When asked whether the dramatic putt or Argentina’s World Cup victory delivered the greater thrill, Pulcini did not hesitate.
He said the goals scored by Enzo Fernandez and Lautaro Martinez in the semi-final meant more than anything he accomplished on the golf course that day, joking that given his struggles during the round, he would gladly take Argentina’s football success instead.
Pulcini also revealed he had correctly predicted a 2-1 Argentine victory before the match, saying he had shared his forecast with English golfer Matt Wallace and now hoped to remind him of the prediction.
Watching History Before Taking to the Course
The Argentine said he watched every second of the World Cup semi-final while enjoying a traditional asado barbecue before arriving at Royal Birkdale.
From his perspective, England began the match strongly but lost control after taking the lead.
Pulcini believed the Three Lions became overly defensive following their goal, drawing comparisons with Argentina’s approach in an earlier knockout match.
He concluded that defending against Lionel Messi ultimately proved impossible, crediting Argentina’s captain and his teammates for turning the contest around and securing a place in the World Cup final.
What Comes Next?
Pulcini will now look to recover from his challenging opening round as he attempts to improve his position in the second round of The Open Championship.
While his score leaves him facing an uphill battle to make the cut, his remarkable finish and football-inspired celebration have already ensured his name will be remembered among the opening day’s talking points at Royal Birkdale.
Summary
Argentinian amateur Mateo Pulcini drew attention at The Open Championship after sinking a 40-foot birdie putt on the final hole and celebrating with Enzo Fernandez’s ear-cupping gesture from Argentina’s World Cup semi-final win over England.
Although the celebration referenced England’s recent football disappointment, Pulcini received enthusiastic applause from spectators and later said it was an expression of excitement rather than an attempt to taunt the home crowd.
Despite finishing five-over par, he described the closing birdie as the highlight of his day while maintaining that Argentina’s victory over England remained the greater celebration.
