The DP World Tour has announced the tee times for Thursday and Friday and, as you would expect, one match in particular will be attracting the crowds. Jon Rahm will be teeing it up on Thursday morning (09:30 – 10th Tee) and on Friday afternoon (14:00 – 1st Tee). He will do so in the company of Adri Arnaus and Min Woo Lee. A mouth-watering group.
Arnaus will be bidding for a repeat of his thrilling performance last year, when only Rafa Cabrera-Bello was able to keep the Catalonian’s hands off the trophy by beating him in a playoff. His stunning second round in 2021 at the ACCIONA Open de España presented by Madrid will live on long in the memories of those that were lucky enough to witness it. Since then, he has won his first title, taking the spoils at the Catalunya Championship in May this year. Victory in Madrid would mean two wins in one year for the Spaniard, both on home soil.
The last member of the trio is Min Woo Lee. If you are planning on making the trip to Club de Campo Villa de Madrid to see Rahm, you’re in luck because you’ll also get the chance to witness this spectacular golfer in the flesh. He is a big hitter and, when his putter gets hot, something of a birdie machine. Lee’s sublime touch around the greens is also something to behold. Don’t write off seeing the Australian towards the top of the leaderboard come Sunday.
It’s difficult to say anything new about Rahm, he’s the hot favourite. All eyes will be on the man from Barrika and the throngs following his progress may possibly be even bigger than in previous years. Not that it matters to the former world number one, for him there is no such thing as pressure. He arrives in Madrid knowing that absolutely everyone is expecting him to take the trophy home. While anyone else would be intimidated by the expectation heaped on his shoulders, Rahm thrives on it.
Another enticing group that is more than worth a watch will be that of defending champion Rafa Cabrera-Bello, who will be playing alongside Tommy Fleetwood. The Englishman is making his first appearance at the ACCIONA Open de España presented by Madrid. Their tee times are a mirror image of those of Rahm’s match; Thursday afternoon (14:00 – 1st Tee) and Friday morning (09:30 – 10th Tee).
Many eyes will be on Fleetwood, the charismatic Ryder Cup star has his own look, an instantly-recognisable swing and a CV to die for. He is certain to provide the fans with plenty to cheer about on his first appearance in the Spanish capital, as is the Canary Islander. The Spaniard is a huge fan of the layout, which suits his game perfectly, and he enjoys a special connection with the people here. Last year was a perfect example, when Rafa himself confessed that he had never felt so much affection on a golf course. Another Englishman completes their threeball – Oliver Wilson. A veteran of the European Tour, the 42 year old has four titles under his belt, the latest coming just last month at the Made in Himmerland event in Denmark.
Other standout matches:
Thursday 9:10 (10th Tee) Friday 13:40 (1st Tee)
Sebastián García (ESP)
Grant Forrest (SCO)
Brandon Stone (RSA)
Thursday 9:20 (10th Tee) Friday 13:50 (1st Tee)
Pablo Larrazábal (ESP)
Ashun Wu (CHN)
Ross Fisher (ENG)
Thursday 9:40 (10th Tee) Friday 14:10 (1st Tee)
Jorge Campillo (ESP)
Thriston Lawrence (RSA)
Thomas Bjorn (DEN)
Thursday 13:50 (1st Tee) Friday 9:20 (10th Tee)
Álvaro Quirós (ESP)
Daniel Gavins (ENG)
Richie Ramsay (SCO)
Thursday 14:10 (1st Tee) Friday 9:40 (10th Tee)
Eddie Pepperell (ENG)
Nacho Elvira (ESP)
Edoardo Molinari (ITA)
Thursday 14:30 (1st Tee) Friday 10:00 (10th Tee)
Gonzalo Fdez-Castaño (ESP)
Tom Lewis (ENG)
Marcel SIEM (GER)
Click on the following link to see all the tee times for the ACCIONA Open de España presented by Madrid:
