Great to see Spanish Open Rahm-packed

JON RAHM was the poster boy in Madrid – and boy did he deliver.

A short-priced favourite to win the Spanish Open, he stepped up to the mark.

Being expected to win your national open provides the ultimate pressure – and, for the lucky few, the ultimate pleasure.

Rahm joins a select list of only six Spaniards to win the event since it was added to the European schedule in 1972.

To be mentioned in the same breath as the likes of Seve Ballesteros – who won it three times – Sergio Garcia (2002) and Miguel Angel Jimenez (2014) will be extra special. It was also Rahm’s third win in only 19 starts on the European Tour, a remarkable return for the 23-year-old.

Only Tom Watson (who celebrated his third win in eight official events) and Tiger Woods (on 12) were quicker.

To win twice on the PGA Tour, earn three victories on the European Tour and rise to fourth in the world rankings in just 22 months as a pro is phenomenal.

These are hugely exciting times for the Spaniard, who will lead Europe’s Ryder Cup charge in September.

He has the game but also star status – his attendance and performance in Madrid helped boost a flagging event.

Rahm carried the tournament and to thrill the galleries the way he did was perfect timing. I haven’t seen a crowd like that in Madrid since Seve’s heyday, with more than 60,000 spectators streaming through the gates. It was also great to see the European Tour support the event – something that didn’t happen last year.

Spain has really suffered economically and that downturn has impacted on the golf scene, where sponsors are harder to come by.

It’s now vital the Spanish government gets involved and helps build the product.

More than 30,000 Spaniards have said that they will sign up to a golf programme after this year’s Open de Espana.

More importantly, an extra 10,000 have declared they are new to golf and this tournament has encouraged them to take up the game.

My sources tell me the European Tour had the courage – or foresight – to carry the financial can and it paid off. The response couldn’t have been stronger.

Sometimes you have to speculate to accumulate.

Rahm was at the heart of the success and, as he continues fulfilling his own golfing dreams, his charisma and thrilling brand of golf can provide further dividends for the sport.

Hopefully, his homeland heroics help attract a sponsor to get the Open de Espana back to where it belongs.

Joining Seve & Sergio will have made it extra special

PRESSURE WAS JON Rahm was the main attraction in Spain & he coped brilliantly with the burden of expectation