Without two-time major winner and former world number one Jon Rahm in the field, the Open de España loses a little bit of its lustre, particularly since the Spaniard is a three-time winner of his National Open.
But Rahm’s withdrawal came as little surprise as it was always likely that he’d have to remain home in Arizona unless he and wife Kelley’s fourth child arrived early.
Still, there is no shortage of talent on show at Club de Campo Villa de Madrid, and Shane Lowry is right up there at the top of it.
After winning the Amgen Irish Open in record-breaking style at Doonbeg, the former Open champion backed it up with a respectable T21 finish at the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth. The win on home soil lifted him back inside the top 50 in the world, and the performance at Doonbeg elevated him still, and that carries an importance of its own as he needs to end the year inside the top 50 to ensure an invitation back to Augusta National without having to rely on being inside a fortnight ahead of the Masters.
One more good week is likely to wrap that up, but each week he tees it up between now and next September is an opportunity to move a step closer to making the European Ryder Cup team for the fourth successive time.
Twelve months ago, Lowry travelled to the Spanish capital shortly after his Ryder Cup heroics and missed the cut by one after opening with a 75. This year, he arrives on the back of a three-week break and it’s a golf course that should suit him as it’s relatively short and rewards pinpoint accuracy from tee-to-green.
Another player who will be licking his lips this week is Lowry’s fellow countryman Tom McKibbin.
After a T6 finish at the British Masters at The Belfry and a T5 at Doonbeg, McKibbin was uncharacteristically out of sorts at Wentworth, but has past course form here having finished tied for fourth last year.
Despite not being part of the European practice squad that made a pitstop at Adare Manor between the Irish Open and BMW PGA, McKibbin’s selection to play alongside Luke Donald for the first two rounds at Doonbeg was no accident. Nor is it an accident that he’ll play alongside Francesco Molinari for the first two days in Madrid. The Italian is set for a third consecutive vice-captain’s role at Adare, and is one of Donald’s most-trusted advisors, so there’s little doubt that McKibbin is on Donald’s watchlist for the next 11 months.
The same goes for David Puig, who like McKibbin has been competing primarily on LIV, and who is the third man in the McKibbin-Molinari grouping.
Lowry will play alongside Race to Dubai leader Patrick Reed who returns from injury having been forced to withdraw at Wentworth after jarring his wrist. Joining them will be Spain’s Eugenio Chacarra, who has two DP World Tour wins to his name already in 2026, and has emerged as another dark horse for Ryder Cup qualification.
McKibbin’s group get underway at 08:00 Irish time, with the Lowry grouping following at 08:30.
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