The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Rahm’ s added incentives
● Spaniard eyes title defence and Ballesteros record at home open
World number five Jon Rahm will be one of the star attractions as he defends his home title at the Spanish Open in Madrid this week.
Rahm followed in some famous Spanish footsteps as he joined the likes of Seve Ballesteros and Sergio Garcia as a winner of the event when he triumphed in the capital last year.
The 24-year-old is now hoping to retain a title for the first time as the event moves to the Club de Campo Villa, following his two-shot win over Paul Dunne at Centro Nacional in April last year.
Rahm said: “There are some weeks when I really want to win. I’d love to be a multiple winner of the Open de Espana, and I’d love this to be the first time I successfully defend a title.
“It won’t be more pressure than last year. That was the first time I played the event, I was fourth in the world, I had just played well at Augusta.
“It was a great feeling walking down the 18th; 50,000 fans turned up to an event that was planned and advertised late.
“I’d like to know how many other European Tour events get 50,000 people.
“I was really proud of my country and proud to be able to come and win.
“Hopefully I can just focus on playing good golf and be in the mix on Sunday.”
Rahm needed just 19 events to secure his third European Tour title before adding the Irish Open in July, and would love to reach another landmark in his 39th event.
He said: “I hope I can get to five before Seve did (who achieved the feat in 49 events). I would love to do that.
“Those records are always nice and that’s something I have in mind when I am playing.”
Rahm will tee off alongside countrymen Rafa Cabrera Bello and Adri Arnaus today while Garcia, Alvaro Quiros and veterans Jose Maria Olazabal and Miguel Angel Jimenez are among the other Spanish entrants.
Cabrera Bello is also relishing the chance to tee up on home soil.
He said: “It is always a pleasure to play in my home event.
“Of course we want to play our best and show off our best golf but sometimes that doesn’t happen. We want to win and we will give it our best shot.
“I’ve played in this tournament a lot and had only two top-10s. It hasn’t been my best event but that can change in a week.
“I feel more mature and ready to deal with the expectation these days,” he said.
“Hopefully I can put in a good performance this year.”
There are six Scots in the field: David Drysdale, Liam Johnston, Marc Warren, Grant Forrest, Ryan Lumsden and Calum Hill.