RAHM BIDS FOR TREBLE
RYAN SEARLE V STEPHEN BUNTING THIS promises to be a fascinating contest between two in-form players.
While they might be ranked 30 and 15 respectively in the latest PDC rankings, this is undoubtedly a 50- 50 clash, such is the form they have showed already this week.
Searle produced the notable scalp of No. 5 seed Dimitri van den Bergh in the opening round.
He followed that up on Tuesday with an excellent display against
Luke Humphries, hitting five maximums, converting almost 50 per cent of his doubles and banging in the ‘big fish’ 170 check- out.
Bunting has been equally impressive. Having ripped Daryl Gurney asunder with a 99 average in his first match, he fired in seven 180s in taking out the world number four James Wade next.
The former BDO world champion might have the greater pedigree, but this is ‘Heavy Metal’s’ time to rock.
WORLD number one Jon golfer Rahm is looking to complete a historic hattrick in the Acciona Open de Espana and achieve something even his hero Seve Ballesteros could not.
Rahm won the event in 2018 and 2019 and with the pandemic forcing a cancellation last year the 26-year- old Spaniard still has the chance to make it three in a row.
Spread
Ballesteros is the only other three-time winner of the Spanish Open but his victories were spread over a 14-year period.
“It would be unique. I know Ollie (Jose Maria Olazabal) couldn’t win it and I know he would have loved to have done it,” Rahm told europeantour.com.
“I would hope to be able
GERWYN PRICE V DAVE CHISNALL DEFENDING champion Price was involved in an absolute humdinger of a semi- final last year against Chisnall, before edging a seven- set thriller (4- 3).
Now the world No.1 and the eighth seed come face-to-face once more in this unique double- start event.
Having survived the carnage that has seen five of the top six seeds eliminated, including his biggest rivals Michael van Gerwen and Peter Wright, the ‘Iceman’ is the clear bookies’ favourite to go and retain his title.
Mission
In his victories over Michael Smith and Mervyn King, he, indeed, appears to be a man on a mission.
‘Chizzy’ remains as unpredictable as ever. Having sneaked past Mensur Suljovic, he looked dead and buried after losing the first two sets to Ross Smith.
However, bouncing back magnificently, Chisnall turned the tide and won 3-2.
Can he finally claim his first PDC TV major?
Not with Price at his sensational best (3- 0 ‘Iceman’ at 9/4). to get to a third, not only to tie Seve but to win it three times in a row.
“It doesn’t matter what event it is, not many people have been able to win one three times in a row so I’m hoping I can get it done, it would be truly my honour.”
Nick Faldo, Ian Woosnam and Colin Montgomerie are the only players to have won a European Tour event outside of the majors and World Golf Championships in three consecutive editions.
Rahm hopes returning to Spain will give him the boost he needs after a disappointing Ryder Cup.
“It’s coming back home that’s important. It’s very fun to play in front of the crowd, they’re very golf hungry in this country,”