Rahm hopes home title eases Masters miss

Jon Rahm will attempt to put his Masters disappointment behind him by completing his collection of national titles in the Open de Espana.

Rahm was in contention for a first major title at Augusta National until finding the water with his approach to the par-five 15th in the final round.

The 23-year-old had to settle for fourth place behind champion Patrick Reed, but is a strong favourite to bounce straight back with a victory at the Centro Nacional de Golf in Madrid, where he practised during his amateur days.

“The Masters was very special in the sense that it was the first time I’d played that good in a major, especially on the weekend, and also adding the fact that I started the week with a 75 and was nine shots off the lead going into the back nine on Friday and I was able to play really good on the last 45 holes or so,” Rahm said.

“When that ball was flying at the flagstick on 15, I really did have hopes that it was going to stick and I was going to have a chance of an eagle like Sergio [Garcia] did last year.”

The Open de Espana dates back to 1912, but was absent from the European Tour schedule last year due to financial issues. It was last staged at the Centro Nacional de Golf in 2007, while England’s Andrew Johnston is the defending champion following his victory at Valderrama in 2016.