After his hopes of capturing a second DP World Tour win were largely scuppered by horrific weather which caused last week’s Alfred Dunhill Links to be reduced to 54 holes, Tom McKibbin heads for the Spanish capital buoyed by a T14 finish in Scotland.
Currently ranked 42nd in the Race to Dubai, and with Tour status already secured for two years thanks to his Porsche European Open win, another strong finish would go a long way to cementing his place in the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai in November, but a push for one of the 10 PGA Tour cards on offer to the 10 leading non-exempt DP World Tour players remains an outside possibility.
Reigning Masters Champion Jon Rahm returns to his homeland as he looks to surpass his childhood idol Seve Ballesteros with a fourth win at the Acciona Open de España presented by Madrid.
The World Number Three claimed an emotional third title in the Spanish capital with a dominant six-shot victory last year and he admitted drawing level with Ballesteros was a momentous occasion in his career.
The 28-year-old returns to Club de Campo Villa de Madrid with the aim to successfully defend his title for a second time less than two weeks on from going unbeaten at the Ryder Cup at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club for the victorious Team Europe.
It will also be the first time he will tee it up on Spanish soil since claiming a maiden Green Jacket earlier this year.
Another success this week would see Rahm take a step closer to the tournament record of Angel de la Torre, who won five times between 1918 and 1925.
With the local crowds set to turn out in their droves once again, Rahm will not be in short supply of support as he looks to put on another great show in his homeland and he will be joined by his Ryder Cup winning teammate Justin Rose.
The Major Champion is making his first appearance at Spain’s national open since 2002, less than two weeks on from playing his part in Team Europe’s stunning victory, and the Englishman is hoping he can build on his Ryder Cup heroics and boost his bid to qualify for the season-ending DP World Tour Championship with a strong performance in Madrid.
Earlier this week, Rahm was on hand to open a ‘Golf Garden’ dedicated to seriously ill children at the Niño Jesús Hospital in Madrid. The outdoor recreational space, open to all hospitalised kids fighting an illness, covers 800 square metres and includes four holes made up of artificial grass with different designs.
The initiative – supported by the Aladina Foundation and Royal Spanish Golf Federation – was the vision of Ramón Barrenechea, president of the Biscayan Golf Federation, who died last August at the age of 58.
“I’m assuming I’m going to hear his [Seve] name a few times this week,” said Rahm. “It would be a true honour. I want to surpass him, but in a weird sense, I think with the great Seve, it’s an odd feeling to think that I might be ahead of him in any category. But at the end of the day, it is what we strive for.
“Any time my name is anywhere remotely closely related to any of the great Spanish players, it’s absolutely amazing. I keep thinking of that little kid back in Barrica growing up, learning how to play golf and thinking maybe someday to be living those days. It’s very special.
“It’s always incredible to play in front of your home crowd and I’m excited to defend my title at Club de Campo.
“I think it was the most enjoyable Ryder Cup I’ve had so far. I played good golf and the team ended up winning. It was exciting and exhilarating and when it comes to being part of the team, it was so special.
“Hard to explain what goes on behind closed doors, but that was about as much fun as a person as I can have because all those players, all those friends were absolutely incredible and you can feel those bonds strengthening on that same week, day by day.
“It was the goal coming in; 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.”
McKibbin will be among the featured groups, playing alongside Kiwi Daniel Hillier and Spaniard Adri Arnaus, with the marquee trio of Rahm, Rafa Cabrera-Bello and Yannick Paul in the group behind.
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