The photo of the Spanish players on the 18th green at Club de Campo Villa de Madrid informs us that the ACCIONA Open de España presented by Madrid is just around the corner. As you would expect, the Spaniards are well represented in the field. 22 home players will be trying to get their hands on the trophy again this year. The last four editions of the event have enjoyed a Spanish winner.
The reason is clear, Jon Rahm is on another planet, and he proves it every October. Only Rafa Cabrera Bello was able to get in his way at the 2021 Open de España. The Canary Islander will be hoping for a change in fortunes after some turbulent form in recent events. He will not be without motivation as he will share a group with Rahm. The Madrid course is a perfect fit for his game and what better place to bounce back than a course on which he already knows what it is to win?
Rahm will be trying to put the icing on the cake of a dream season by winning his fourth Open de España. He is the hot favourite, but the rest of the Spanish contingent cannot be written off. One name stands out above the rest: Pablo Larrazabal. The Catalonian player already has two wins to his name this season (the KLM OPEN and the Korea Championship), he is currently 24th in the Race to Dubai and will be chomping at the bit to finally get in the mix on Sunday in Madrid.
Also looking to dethrone the Barrika Lion are Campillo, Otaegui and Arnaus. The latter was in a playoff for the title in the year that Cabrera took the spoils and will be bidding for his third DP World Tour title in the Spanish capital. Campillo is another player who has paid a visit to the winners’ circle this year. In Kenya, he notched up his third win as a professional on the European circuit and is in fine form as he arrives in Madrid. Otaegui produced the biggest win of his career last year when he destroyed the field at the Estrella Damm N.A. Andalucía Masters, showing everyone the calibre of player he truly is.
The usual group of veterans will be back again this year as they hope to spring a surprise. Fernandez Castaño, Nacho Elvira, and Alejandro Cañizares will be bidding to go low on a course they know like the backs of their hands.
Sebas García could be the man to provide the X-factor. Two years ago at Club de Campo he produced possibly the best round of his career. The Madrid native signed for a perfect nine-under par, demonstrating that he can go head-to-head with the best when he is on his game.
Last year’s surprise package will be back in the competition. Amateur Luis Masaveu stole the hearts of the fans who made the trip to the ACCIONA Open de España last year with his humility, character, and some exquisite golf.
22 Spaniards, with Rahm leading the way, will be hoping to get their names on the trophy to keep it at home for another year. With the Basque at the helm, the odds are surely in Spain’s favour.
