Jon Rahm is hopeful of riding the wave of momentum in the European ranks from the Ryder Cup as he targets surpassing Seve Ballesteros with a fourth victory at the Open de España presented by Madrid.
The Spaniard is the headline act in his homeland as he tees it up for the first time since playing a key part in Team Europe’s thrilling win at Bethpage Black last month.
After losing out in a play-off to countryman Angel Hidalgo last year at Club de Campo Villa de Madrid, Rahm arrives in the Spanish capital inspired by the success of one of his Ryder Cup team-mates in New York.
At the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship in Scotland last week, Robert MacIntyre enjoyed success on home soil and former World Number One Rahm is eager to make headlines of his own as he returns to DP World Tour action.
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Asked whether playing in a home event so soon after a Ryder Cup was the ideal first competitive event back in action, he said: “I would say after watching Bob MacIntyre win in Scotland it is a huge positive.
“From going from having the crowd against us to having everybody cheering for me is going to be very special. Massive difference, massive juxtaposition but beautiful in a different way.
“I am looking forward to it. I am looking forward to hopefully getting that fourth Spanish Open.
“Again, hoping to actually perform well in front of this crowd. They have been so good to me, so supportive that the least I can do is give it my best shot and hopefully I am there on Sunday to win it.”
Rahm boasts an incredible record in his national championship, claiming back-to-back titles in 2018 and 2019 – the former on his debut – before a third came in 2022.
Only an inspired performance by Hidalgo denied him becoming the first player to win the Spanish Open on four occasions since it was the founding event on the DP World Tour in 1972.
If he was to win this week, he would not only surpass the late, great Ballesteros’ feat of three titles but also move a step closer to the record haul of five wins by Ángel de la Torre between 1916 and 1925.
"I was able to get three very, very fast," added Rahm.
"It is never easy and I am hoping I can do it sooner rather than later.
"But I’m just focusing on hopefully getting that fourth and getting past Seve."
He will not be short in supply of support, with his presence sure to draw big crowds, perhaps only boosted with Rahm drawn alongside defending champion Hidalgo and his Ryder Cup team-mate Shane Lowry over the opening two rounds.
Rahm added: “If we get the weather that we are supposed to have, very little wind and just sunny, you're going to see some low scores.
"Every part of the game needs to be good but, in my case, being as narrow as it is, having a good week off the tee is paramount to being able to have a good week.”
