Add Jon Rahm’s name to the records of Spanish golf history after he claimed his third national open title by winning the Acciona Open de España presented by Madrid. The world number six equals the late Seve Ballesteros’ haul of three victories in his home Open.
Following in Seve’s footsteps, Rahm collected the trophy at Club de Campo Villa de Madrid, where
Ballesteros claimed his third Spanish Open victory in 1995, and his 50 th and final DP World Tour
victory. Rahm explained the feeling of winning his third national title to equal his hero’s Spanish Open record
after his round:
“You might have to ask me in a few days as I take quite a while to process these things, but it was the
goal coming in.” he said. “You know, Seve is a great hero of mine and to do something he took his whole career to do in just a few years is quite humbling, I’m not going to lie. It might not be the strongest field I play all year but sometimes this could be the hardest to win, right? When I’m at home, I’m supposed to win, everybody is betting on me to win and to come out and play a Sunday like I just did it’s hard to describe. It was my lowest round, my lowest score out here, it was pretty much a perfect week.”
He continued: “I’ve spoken many times about how that 1997 Ryder Cup and Seve making the win that week, some friends of my dad’s started me playing golf otherwise who knows what else I’d be. I’m here because of that alone, and everything else is down to the path that he’s paved for so many of us. Not only him but Olly (Jose Maria Olazabal) after him and then Sergio (Garcia). I mean Sergio has been instrumental as well, somebody that carried records after them for so long. You know it’s not only for me but it’s also for them and hopefully the many who come.” Spanish fans enjoyed an enthralling final day at Club de Campo Villa de Madrid as Rahm battled it out on the Black course to claim his eighth DP World Tour victory. The 27-year-old carded a closing
62, 9 under par, to finish the tournament at 25 under and win his first DP World Tour title since winning his maiden major at the 2021 US Open. He also beats Seve’s lowest scoring record on the Club de Campo Villa de Madrid Black course.
The world No.6 enjoyed smooth sailing on his final round with four birdies on the front nine, including a spectacular 13-foot birdie putt on the par-3, 9 th hole to gain a two-shot lead going into the back nine. An eagle on the par-5, 14 th hole, followed by two back-to-back birdies at the end of his round cemented his third national open win by six shots over France’s Matthieu Pavon.
“To feel the support from the crowd on that 18 th hole is hard to believe,” Rahm added. “I know it’s supposed to help but in golf and in individual sports sometimes that crowd can get in your head and it’s something that is hard to get used to. I’m proud I was able to do what I did. Truthfully, moments like this, pressure packed moments, make it better. Pressure makes diamonds, sometimes you get a diamond like this one.” Rahm is now the second fastest Spanish player to win eight titles on the DP World Tour in 62 appearances, only one event more than Ballesteros who won three in 61 starts.
