The Open de España presented by Madrid is offering a spot at next year’s Masters Tournament for the first time, along with being the opening event of The Open Qualifying Series.
As part of a change to qualification criteria announced by Augusta National and The R&A in August, this week’s champion will earn an invite to the Masters while the top finisher - not otherwise exempt - will earn entry to The Open in 2026.
Spain’s national open – the seventh of nine events on the DP World Tour’s Back 9 – is the first of 15 tournaments in 13 countries offering players a route to Royal Birkdale at The 154th Open via The Open Qualifying Series, which has been in operation since 2013.
Jon Rahm, one of several Masters champions from Spain, is exempt for both Majors next year but is thrilled by the move which emphasises his home championship’s prestige.
“It is an extreme honour,” said Rahm, who won the Green Jacket in 2023 to claim his second Major after the U.S. Open in 2021. “It speaks to the history and the meaning of this event.
“You have a lot of Spanish champions that mean a lot in the history of Augusta National.
“I think to get that recognition and that reward for being able to get into that event and The Open Championship is fantastic.
“We have had a lot of people that have made an impact in the game of golf and to give the [Spanish] open, one of the oldest events on the European Tour, the recognition it deserves by rewarding the champion with an invite into two of the Majors, in my mind possibly the two biggest Majors, is very important and I am very happy that it is happening.”
Rahm, who is bidding to surpass the late, great Seve Ballesteros by winning the Spanish Open title for a fourth time, lost out to countryman Angel Hidalgo at Club de Campo Villa de Madrid 12 months ago and is hopeful a home talent can challenge for the silverware again this week.
He added: “I am hoping that some young Spanish players, if not one of us two, gets the chance to go out and perform in those great venues because it is never easy to make it there.
“To win your national open and get rewarded with going to Birkdale and Augusta National is quite special.”
Hidalgo has made two Major Championship starts, both of which have come at The Open as a qualifier in 2024 and 2025.
While hopeful of one day making it to Augusta National, Hidalgo, who won the hearts of fans both in his homeland and abroad with his fearless approach on his way to victory, is focusing his attention on the task at hand as he makes his first DP World Tour title defence.
“It is a dream for every player who starts playing this sport to one day play at the Masters,” said the 27-year-old.
“Obviously it is an extra [aspect] but I think it is a gift for the tournament.
“The important thing is to play the four rounds and to try and take the trophy again with the extra [reward] of having a nice walk with Jon [Rahm] at Augusta in April.
“I just want to play the tournament and if I have the chance to win the tournament on Sunday we will then think about the Masters.”
