World number five Jon Rahm will be one of the star attractions as he defends his home title at the Open de Espana 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 2018.

Rahm told europeantour.com: “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.
“Hopefully I can just focus on playing good golf and be in the mix on Sunday.”

Rahm will tee off alongside countrymen Rafa Cabrera Bello and Adri Arnaus on Thursday while Garcia, Alvaro Quiros and veterans Jose Maria Olazabal and Miguel Angel Jimenez are among the other Spanish entrants.

More to follow…