Rahm leads the Spanish options in the last ‘major’ of the year
MADRID, 13 Jul. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The British Open celebrates its 150th edition from this Thursday to Sunday at the mythical course of Saint Andrews, where everyone wants to win, an appointment marked on the calendar in which Spanish golf will have four representatives led by Jon Rahm.
The Scottish town is the cradle of golf, its physical and spiritual home to which it returns a year late, due to the suspension in 2020 of the tournament due to the coronavirus pandemic and for the 30th time. Bathed by the North Sea and with golf history around every corner, Saint Andrews puts on the line the last ‘Grand Slam’ of the year.
With the recent emergence of LIV Golf, the new Saudi circuit, and the debates about whether money is the most important thing, such a scenario increases its aura. The firm and fast Scottish route, always under the threat of adverse weather, will host the best in the world, starting with a Tiger Woods who was not going to miss it.
The American withdrew last May from the PGA Championship thinking of reaching the British Open. After a miraculous recovery from the traffic accident he had at the beginning of last year, the ‘Tiger’ amazed with his return at the Masters and forced himself on the PGA, but prioritized Saint Andrews, where he won in 2000 and 2005, ahead of the US Open which was played in mid-June.
The 15-majors champion is one of the biggest focuses at The Open, as is the intractable number one, fellow American Scottie Scheffler, champion in Augusta. The Japanese Collin Morikawa defends his title and the Englishman Matt Fitzpatrick, recent champion of the US Open, and Justin Thomas, winner of the PGA Champ, will seek to repeat this year in the ‘Grand Slam’.
Among the favorites is also the Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy and Jon Rahm who a month ago woke up his best game in the US Open defense attempt. He failed the Basque on the last day, but Saint Andrews, where Severiano Ballesteros left that iconic celebration with his fist in 1984, motivates Barrika a lot.
Sergio García, Adri Arnaus and Pablo Larrazábal complete the Spanish representation on the Old Course. For the man from Castellón, he is his favorite ‘major’, where he has accumulated 10 appearances in the ‘Top 10’ and a couple of almost wins. Arnaus, in his second appearance at the British Open, and Larrazabal know what it means to win this season, so they will seek to get that performance.