From the impressive terrace located at the end of the 18th hole, with a bird’s eye view of the green where the ACCIONA Open de España presented by Madrid will most likely be played and with a spectacular panoramic view of the Madrid skyline, Jon Rahm once again demonstrated the magnetic capacity that characterizes the greatest players.
“It is a source of pride to be considered a reference in golf and Spanish sport,” he said with the serenity and prudence that comes with returning to Spain after two years and setting foot on the land where, by golly, something is changing, “because I went out on the street yesterday and after 30 seconds I had already been recognized”.
The Basque golfer is once again facing history, undoubtedly a product of his meteoric sporting career and his undisguised capacity for work and self-improvement, a predatory attitude that leads him to achieve milestones and break records at every step. Number one in the world, Jon Rahm aspires to achieve his third victory in a Spanish Open, which would equal the record of Severiano Ballesteros in this tournament, to be held at the Club de Campo Villa de Madrid between October 7 and 10.
His appearance before the media left, as expected, many pearls. Among them, of course, that he comes with the intention of winning.
“I would like to emulate Seve this week“
“I know this course well from coming here with my ‘aita’ when I was a kid. Two years ago it was a great event and I would like to repeat, have a good week, emulate Seve and revalidate the title.”
“It has been a year of many experiences, with more good things than bad“
It is hard to believe that the Masters was played only five months ago. In this time everything has happened. I missed the Games, the Memorial happened, I won the US Open, I have continued with my life as a father, everything about the Ryder -which was not a good week, although I am sure you would enjoy seeing Sergio and me winning together-,…. It has been a year of many experiences, with more good things than bad. I have had to suffer the Covid, like many people, but I have been very lucky as far as it goes.
“In 2015, at the Phoenix tournament, I confirmed that I could be with the best“
“I always believed I was capable of being here, but I corroborated it in 2015 with fifth place in Phoenix while still an amateur. Having that reality gave me a lot of confidence, even more than I already had. I knew my level was there, it was clear to me even before I turned pro.”
“I don’t know what the Americans have done in the Ryder, but it has worked for them“
“The truth is that I know little about the reality of the American team. I haven’t seen anything on social media, we go about our business. I don’t know what they have done, but it has worked for them. They played very well. Winning a Ryder creates a bond, a friendship that few things give you. They have done something, maybe it’s the youth of its members or the fact that some have been friends for a long time, but whatever it was, it worked”.
“It’s hard to know if I’m media or not when I don’t live here “
“I don’t realize if I’m media or not, it’s hard when I don’t live here. I realize more when I spend some time here, or on social networks. Yesterday thirty seconds passed between when I left the hotel to go for a walk and someone recognized me. In Bilbao I understand it, but in Madrid it’s so fast… My parents and friends tell me, but I don’t notice it so much myself.
“I hope to transcend golf and be a reference like Nadal, Alonso or Gasol“
I do not know if I will reach their levels, but I would love it, I would be delighted. Rafa Nadal has always been my idol, the person to learn from. If in the future I can be a reference for any child in Spain, it will be a great joy”.
“I look back and feel a lot of pride“
“When I train I go with the goal of being the best golfer I can be. If I hadn’t made it I would also be happy that I gave everything I could give. When I remember those moments I think of the hours I have put in over the last twelve years and the hours I will put in to stay on top for the next twelve. I feel pride and humility, because I know what I’m going to have to do to stay in that position”.
“I couldn’t believe Alejandro del Rey’s 58-stroke card“
“I couldn’t believe it. I’ve shot 59 more than once in training. But 58… it’s hard to take so many strokes off a round. Making history is different, the nerves are different. It is curious that the two players who have made 58 (Alejandro del Rey and Jim Furyk) have not won the tournament. That tells you about the level of golf today. I wish Alejandro the best, he’s a very talented junior player.
“The 17th is my favorite hole at Club de Campo Villa de Madrid“
“The 17th is very good, a tricky par 3 at the end of the round. It’s not particularly difficult, but it’s such a small green that it demands precision. The 1st, the 13th… with those high tees. They are beautiful.
“The -20 this week is an affordable result“
“It all depends on the weather, among other things. Two years ago it was good and the course hardened up, which favored me. The -20 is affordable, but I don’t know if it will be more or less. Anyone can have a good week and make you very few. I hope my score is the right one to win”.
“I played with Rafael Nadal once, and I’d love to do it again.”
“You’d be surprised how well he plays. I would have loved to play with him. On the Korn Ferry Tour there’s a lot of talk about bringing celebrities to encourage people to come to the tournament. I think it’s good, but as long as it doesn’t take the place of a deserving player, of course. If Rafa had come, I would have loved to play with him, although it would have been complicated by the amount of people who would have come to see Rafa. I played with him when I was in college, in Palms Spring, and hopefully we can do it again. I have greeted him a few times at the US Open. I think he plays more golf than tennis. There are a lot of athletes who take up golf as a second sport, it’s funny”.
“The St. Andrews Open is one of my big goals in 2022.”
“It’s not over yet this year, so I haven’t thought about it. At the end of the year I’ll think about it. Winning more majors is always the mentality. I was the first Spaniard to win a U.S. Open, so being the first to win the PGA would not be bad. In any case, winning the Open would be what I would like the most, and more so this year at St. Andrews and in the 150th edition. The course-tournament combination is unbeatable. Winning the FedEx Cup,… there are several objectives, but for 2022, winning the second major would be the main one”.
“The Solheim Cup can be an important boost for women’s golf“
“I’m here because of the ’97 Ryder, so I can only say that it’s important that events like this come to Spain. Being part of European teams is a great thing. It’s more fun to win a hole with Sergio than certain moments of a Grande. They are special emotions and bonds. I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s an important boost for women’s golf.”
.
AROUND THE TOURNAMENT
An approach contest to kick off the most sustainable tournament in history
Golfers Jon Rahm and Luke Donald, the Mayor of Madrid José Luis Martínez Almeida, José Manuel Entrecanales, Executive Chairman of ACCIONA, and Gonzaga Escauriaza, President of the RFEG, kicked off the 93rd edition of the Spanish Open with an approach contest on the 18th hole, which, by the way, was won by Gonzaga Escauriaza.
To
two of them later expressed their satisfaction for contributing to the celebration of the most sustainable tournament in history, which also aims to become a benchmark for the organization of future major events.
José Manuel Entrecanales, CEO of ACCIONA, emphasized that “we are a company that is very involved with the environment and we are going to be regenerative in this tournament, we are going to capture more CO2 than we produce with the intention of becoming a standard in the organization of the most important events in the world”.
José Luis Martínez Almeida, Mayor of Madrid, was pleased “to be able to hold this tournament because it means that we are overcoming the pandemic little by little. Madrid is a city linked to sport and involved through sustainability policies in the fight against climate change. The slogan of this tournament says it clearly: Emissions under par”.
For his part, Gonzaga Escauriaza, president of the RFEG, emphasized that “unbeatable ingredients come together, a magnificent city, a sensational course, committed sponsors, great players… In addition, this tournament will contribute to changing the image of golf with respect to sustainability”.
Finally, Gerard Tsobanian, President and CEO of the tournament, emphasized that “the joint effort will bear fruit. We have an individual competition, that of the players, but also another by teams, of all the parties involved in the organization of this great event, an example of sustainability. Together we are going to position it from now on as an example in Spain, Europe and the whole world”.
Leave a Reply