Lhe history of national golf has been written and continues to be written by numerous golfers, but Jon Rahm already occupies a place of privilege among them after winning their third Open the Espaa (2018, 2019 y 2022), equalizing in this way, at 27 years old, the three titles of his idol Severiano Ballesteroswho achieved his last Open with 38. Both are the ones who accumulate the most in the modern era, although two from a pioneer of this sport such as ngel de la Torre.
The ‘Len de Barrika’ took a mass bath in the Villa de Madrid Country Club, although before receiving a resounding ovation on the 18th hole he had to work on the unforgettable little walk that he starred in on the way to the last green. The Basque shot on the last day 62 hits (259 total and -25, tournament record) and he cemented his return, even more so than his tee-to-green game, on the putt. In the classification they were followed by Matthieu Pavon (265), son of former Real Betis player Michel Pavon, and Min Woo Lee (266). The latter, for a few holes, turned the stellar match into a match play. Having the Australian, the other player who started with a certain favoritismso along with Jon and Fleetwood in this tournament, in any case prevented the Spanish golfer from relaxing for a moment.
“There is no week of the year more fun for me than this. Equaling one of Seve’s records so soon, but doing it with the lap I did today, I don’t believe it”, assured the Basque player after receiving the champion’s cup.
Today it can be safely said that the ‘Rahm effect’ is reinforced and is more than consolidated. The fact that the Basque did not arrive as number one and with a ‘major’ under his arm this year in Madrid did not prevent the public from turning out massively on Thursday, during the first day. Today, with ‘Rahmbo’ on the 1st tee as the leader, it even became difficult to follow his match as it progressed. The public was distributed by all the holes to receive their idol, but with each step that the Spanish golfer took, he dragged more and more followers. The presence of the ‘Lion of Barrika’ in our country does nothing but make it clear that your presence is very important for national golf. Jon’s jerk turns him into living history of our sport.
As far as the game is concerned, the Biscan offered a recital and even gave the impression that it seemed easy. On the second hole Jon got his first birdie after a great start and a direct iron to the flag. Rahm’s start was solid, although he only managed to scratch par on hole 4, the first of the par 5s on the course. On hole 6 there was one of those moments that hook the public and cause a rush in the player. The ‘Len de Barrika’ holed a 15-meter putt that gave him a boost just as Edoardo Molinari and the French Pavon approached thanks to two eagles. The Spaniard’s teammates, Louis de Jaeger and Min Woo Lee also putted in to continue applying pressure.
The latter made the eagle on the next par 5, the 7th hole, while the Spaniard maintained the lead with a birdie after a successful chip and short putt. At 8 he brushed the birdie, but his putt was a bit short and in the 9th the one from Barrika made a perfect reading of the fall to have a two shot advantage. He closed the first nine at -4, his best result of the week. The thunderous roar of the public on 11 after a 10 meter putt showed that everything was on the right track, already three strokes ahead. On the 12th hole came the most curious shot of the day, with the Spaniard bent over to return a ball to the fairway after a bad start. The first bogey of the day arrived, but the sixth birdie was immediate. On the 14th hole -last par 5- the Spanish champion almost hit an albatross after one of the shots of the year; did the eagle and Lee a bogey, so the distance between them was already five.
‘Rahmbo’ continued to feint with birdies on each green and on the 17th he did it again. How could it be otherwise, he closed with his eighth birdie (plus an eagle).
