Álvaro Quirós in 2010; Miguel Ángel Jiménez in 2014; Jon Rahm, with two consecutive titles in 2018 and 2019; and Rafael Cabrera-Bello in 2021 are the last on the list of Spaniards to have entered the winners’ circle at the ACCIONA Open de España presented by Madrid. Five wins in the last 10 events that highlight the home players’ authority in the recent history of this great tournament.
The ‘Armada’, as the home players are known in Spain, this year comprising 29 representatives, are intent to reiterate their dominance of the event by claiming a fourth title on the trot. The feat has not been achieved since Sebastián Miguel, Ángel Miguel, Ramón Sota and Ángel Miguel again, took the spoils in consecutive years from 1960 to 1964 (the event was not played in 1962).
It is through these foundations that the ACCIONA Open de España presented by Madrid has become the tournament it is today. The plethora of historic records set at the event are the result of over a century of passion and hard work, always with one eye on sustainability in order to embrace both the present and the future.
As Club de Campo Villa de Madrid prepares to welcome thousands of avid golf fans, who will come from far and wide to witness the greatest golf in the world, the history books await, ready to carve in stone the latest feat to be performed on this great stage. There are plenty of quality players in a field capable of stepping forward and adding their name to the trophy, but all eyes are on the Spanish contingent, this year headed by Jon Rahm and Rafa Cabrera-Bello, the last two winners.
We cannot say what records may have been set or broken come Sunday, when the final ball has been struck. What we do know, however, is that, if recent editions of the event are anything to go by, this is guaranteed to be a spectacular event.
Winning this event, something that has been achieved by a Spaniard 40 times, the last being Rafa Cabrera-Bello in the unforgettable 2021 edition, is always much more difficult than it may seem. There have only been 10 Spanish triumphs here in the last 40 years. Three of those belonged to the late, great Seve Ballesteros, who came out on top in 1981, 1985 and 1995, the latter coming at Club de Campo Villa de Madrid. Jon Rahm is bidding to emulate his hero’s three-title haul this week.
The former world number one will be joined by plenty of other first-class players such as Adri Arnaus, Pablo Larrazábal, Alejandro Cañizares, Jorge Campillo, Eduardo de la Riva, Samuel del Val, Pep Anglés, Sebastián García, Pedro Oriol, Carlos Pigem, Gonzalo Fernández-Castaño, Álvaro Quirós. So, there will be plenty of opportunities for the fans to enjoy watching some home favourites, including the two Spanish amateurs in the field, Luis Masaveu and Quim Vidal.
MORE AT THE ACCIONA OPEN DE ESPAÑA PRESENTED BY MADRID
Unwavering institutional and corporate support
The traditional pro-am day produced plenty of memorable moments at Club de Campo Villa de Madrid. One of the highlights was the match between Jon Rahm and José Luis Martínez-Almeida, the mayor of the Spanish capital, which clearly reflected the institutional and corporate support for an event that is going to great lengths to become a world leader in sustainability. Martínez-Almeida, a very capable golfer in his own right, said on the 18th green that the experience had been extremely compelling.
Early morning for Jon Rahm, early afternoon for Rafael Cabrera-Bello
Groups to watch on Thursday at the Club de Campo. The early birds will not want to miss the match that tees off on the 10th at 09:30 with Jon Rahm, Adri Arnaus -old pals from their amateur days- and the Australian Min Woo. Later, at 14:00, another of the featured groups is that of Rafael Cabrera-Bello and Englishmen Tommy Fleetwood and Oliver Wilson, where there will surely be plenty of birdies. This is just the tip of the iceberg of magnificent golf in store on a day that is forecast to be sunny with a maximum of 28º.
The fifteenth Spanish victory of the year?
Spanish golf will pick up its fifteenth title of the season from the world’s various professional tours if it is to find another winner at the ACCIONA Open de España presented by Madrid. This run of success highlights the strength in depth of the current band of Spanish players. The first Spanish win this year came from Miguel Angel Jimenez at the Mitsubishi Electric Championship and the Cologuard Classic on the Champions Tour. The indefatigable Pisha won again recently at the Boeing Classic.
The list of Spanish victories this season is completed by Fatima Fernandez (Carlisle Arizona Women’s Golf Classic – Epson Tour), Manuel Morugan (Abruzzo Alps Open – Alps Tour), Pablo Larrazabal (ISPS Handa Championship in Spain – DP World Tour), Adri Arnaus (Catalunya Championship – DP World Tour), Jon Rahm (Mexico Open – PGA Tour), Ana Pelaez (Comunidad de Madrid Ladies Open – Ladies European Tour), Javier Sainz (Scottish Challenge – Challenge Tour), Carlota Ciganda (Estrella Damm Ladies Open), Alejandro del Rey (German Challenge) and Emilio Cuartero (Dormy Open – Challenge Tour).
HISTORY AT THE ACCIONA OPEN DE ESPAÑA PRESENTED BY MADRID
The challenges for Jon Rahm, Rafael Cabrera-Bello and company
The Basque golfer is a sportsman who works with goals, the more outrageous, the better. It doesn’t matter if he has to make a Herculean effort if he is to achieve them. Equalling Seve’s three titles is his main focus this week, but there is another feat within reach of all the players here this week… if they are lucky enough to find some magic. The course record at the Club de Campo Villa de Madrid is up for grabs. It is currently held by Ross McGowan, who shot a 10-under par 61 in 2021. The Englishman went bogey-free and carded 8 birdies and an eagle.
For his part, Rafael Cabrera-Bello is bidding to do the double at an Open de España, which may not sound too difficult, but the last two players to do so were Jon Rahm (2018 and 2019) and Max Faulkner (1952 and 1953).
Can anyone go lower than -22?
In 2019, Jon Rahm put on an unforgettable golfing masterclass en route to his second consecutive title at the ACCIONA Open de España presented by Madrid. His final score of 22 under par was one of the lowest ever posted at his national Open, equalling that of Kenneth Ferrie in 2003, when the Englishman won a playoff against Peter Hedblom and Peter Lawrie.
Spanish dominance
Last year’s tournament saw an unforgettable win for Rafael Cabrera-Bello, who came out on top of a thrilling playoff with Adri Arnaus. However, two Spaniards at the top of the leaderboard was not the best finish ever for the home golfers at the ACCIONA Open de España presented by Madrid; as recently as 2019 Jon Rahm was joined on the podium by Rafael Cabrera-Bello and Samuel del Val, a historic result.
