Extremaduran golfer Jorge Campillo received the Gold Medal of Merit on Monday from the Royal Spanish Golf Federation (RFEG) in recognition of his sporting career in both the amateur and professional ranks. He considered the award "an honor after many years of hard work."

Campillo, 39, born in Cáceres, joined the list of recipients of the RFEG's highest award during the annual Spanish golf gala held at a Madrid hotel. He arrived from South Africa after participating in a DP World Tour tournament, the European circuit.

Jorge Campillo, statements

"It's an honor for me. It's been many years of hard work, and to have it recognized is wonderful. I'm very happy to have received it," the Extremaduran golfer told EFE after accepting the award.

He confessed that despite his experience and merits, he hadn't expected to receive the award this year, for which he was unanimously chosen: "I wasn't expecting it this year. I was hoping it would be later, but better late than never."

Campillo, ranked 157th in the world, has three European Tour victories—the 2019 Hassan II Trophy, the 2020 Qatar Masters, and the 2023 Kenya Open—in 408 tournaments played.

He also has 32 PGA Tour tournaments under his belt and represented Spain at the Tokyo Olympics.

The player from Cáceres stated that despite his long career, which saw him reach number two in the world amateur rankings in 2008 before turning professional in 2010, he isn't thinking about retirement yet.

"I've been playing for many years, but I still feel motivated and have a few more years left. I'm on the 10th tee and I hope I have the back nine to play. I'd like to play a few more majors and win a tournament," he said.

The Gold Medal was also awarded to the members of the Spanish team that won the European Ladies' Team Championship held in France last July.

The team consisted of Paula Martín, Andrea Revuelta, Rocío Tejedo, and Paula de Francisco, with Covadonga Basagoiti as captain.

The Gold Medal for Merit in Golf was awarded posthumously to Ernesto Fernández de Gamboa, a driving force behind amateur men's golf within the federation, who passed away in mid-September.

The ceremony was presided over by the president of the RFEG (Royal Spanish Golf Federation), Juan Guerrero-Burgos, along with the mayor of Madrid, José Luis Martínez-Almeida, a keen golf enthusiast, who was presented with a plaque in gratitude for the support the city council provides to the sport.

Guerrero-Burgos, who has led the RFEG for a year, described the recently concluded season as "extraordinary" and emphasized that the credit for the titles won belongs to the golfers.

"The most important thing in sports is the players. They are the ones who work, suffer, and fight, and success comes from their perseverance, dedication, and competitive spirit," the federation president stressed at the event, which followed the RFEG's annual General Assembly.