Ereño’s confidence was on full display as he navigated the demanding layout with six birdies and two bogeys. When asked if his youth makes him the most aggressive player in the field, he downplayed any advantage, crediting his four years at UCLA instead.
“I think the last four years at UCLA, they allowed me to get better and to be a better player,” he said. “So I think I’m really prepared to play with these pros. It’s still new to me to think that I’m a professional golfer. I think I’m really prepared, and my golf is good enough to compete with these guys.”
Ereño’s short game, honed under UCLA coach Armen Kirakossian, has been a particular focus.
“He’s been really obsessed with me getting better on chipping, putting and bunker game,” Ereño noted. “Pretty much the short game area. He’s helped me a lot just trying to develop as a player to know who I am on the golf course.”
The Spaniard is no stranger to competing alongside his countrymen on the rise. He’s close friends with Fireballs GC members Josele Ballester and Luis Masaveu, both young Spanish talents thriving on Sergio Garcia’s team.
“I’m super close, especially with Josele and Luis Masaveu,” Ereño said. “I’ve only heard good things about it so that’s why I’m here trying to earn my spot for next year. You can only see what Josele is doing right now. He’s won an International Series event already. He’s been playing great the last two or three months. So yeah, I look up to them, and they only help me get better.”
With three wild card spots into LIV Golf for the 2026 season on the line, Ereño is fully embracing the unique opportunity he has during the next three rounds.
“It doesn’t matter if you shot 6-under yesterday or 1-under and got through just on the number,” he said. “You start from zero the next day.”
Yes, Ereño is the youngest player in the field, but he may also be the most talented. With his game in a great place and inspiration from his Spanish peers, a deep run this week could fast-track him to sharing the LIV Golf stage with them in 2026.