The ACCIONA Open de España has become a stage for heightened anticipation, reaching levels rarely seen in the past. Indeed, from every angle, every detail attracts the attention of the fans, who have at their disposal the best field of players in the modern history of this tournament.

The spotlight is multiplying like spores in anticipation of the great battle. Jon Rahm's last-minute arrival, fresh from becoming a father for the third time; a possible fourth victory for the Basque player, who comes fresh off wins at the LIV Golf UK and Chicago; a potential fifth Spanish victory in the last six years; a record 25 under par overall for the Spanish Open; a low round of 61 at the CC Villa de Madrid… these are just some of the statistics that add an extraordinary level of interest to what promises to be a thrilling edition even before it begins.

Four of them starred in the presentation press conference: Englishman Tommy Fleetwood, among many other things Olympic silver medalist in Paris 2024; Irishman Shane Lowry, with seven victories to his name; Frenchman Matthieu Pavon, current champion… and José Luis Ballester, the brand new winner, for the first time in the history of Spanish golf, of the prestigious US Amateur.

Officials and golfers explained their feelings hours before the start of the most sustainable event on the DP World Tour calendar.

Gonzaga Escauriaza, President of the Royal Spanish Golf Federation, welcomed the players to the tournament and emphasized its role, and that of the golf sector in general, as a driving force for tourism in Spain. “1.4 million people come here every year. This Open is a model of sustainability, with electric cars and no plastics… We know how to do things right in our country and in our city, as is always evident at the Spanish Open,” he stated.

Along the same lines, Joaquín Mollinedo, Director General of Institutional Relations, Communication and Brand at Acciona, emphasized that “this tournament is not only a sporting event, but also a global benchmark in terms of sustainability. We have reduced emissions by 40 percent, always seeking nature-based solutions, and this year we will measure the event's water footprint. We are going to generate more new water than we will consume,” he explained.

For his part, Gerard Tsobanian, President of the Acciona Open de España presented by Madrid, also celebrated the sustainable aspect of the event, but emphasized the purely sporting side: “It has been a challenge to bring these players here, heavyweights who wanted to be here from the beginning, as they told me at the start of the year. Like fine wine, the tournament is maturing and getting better, which is why these champions are here,” he noted.

The last person to welcome the players was José Luis Martínez-Almeida, Mayor of Madrid, who said he couldn't recall "a Spanish Open of this caliber. We knew Gerard would establish this tournament as one of the best, and he hasn't disappointed us. It's very rare to see players of this level up close, and let me tell you something: golf isn't better on TV, it's better on the course, so we'll see you at the Club de Campo Villa de Madrid," he said.

Josele Ballester: “I’m here to compete and learn”

One of the most anticipated moments was the return to Spain of José Luis Ballester, the amateur golfer who has become a sensation after his victory at the US Amateur. The golfer from Castellón said he was coming off “a super special month. It’s incredible to be back in Spain after this last year in Arizona. I’ve just won my first tournament in the United States, my favorite of the year, and my goal this week is to compete in front of the home crowd and learn from these players.”.

Alongside the Spaniard was Tommy Fleetwood, number 12 in the World Ranking and a lover of our country. “It’s a great pleasure to be here for the second time at this tournament. It’s a place where there are always many fans, and this year we have some great players. I think it’s going to be a very interesting tournament,” he predicted.

Irishman Shane Lowry echoed these sentiments about the tournament, saying he'd watched it on TV since he was a kid. "I really wanted to be in Madrid; it's a city I love. I have high hopes for the Spanish Open," he concluded.

The event also featured, of course, the testimony of the tournament's defending champion, Frenchman Matthieu Pavon, whose life changed a year ago. “It's a pleasure to be here, where everything turned upside down for me. It's a great honor to play in Spain because my grandfather was from Madrid. Last year's victory was a great one. Since then, I've been taking steps forward on the PGA Tour. Madrid will always be special to me,” he concluded.

AROUND THE GREEN

Jon Rahm, with Pavon and Straka, at 2:00 PM

The action kicks off this Thursday with two tee times at 8:30 a.m. On one of them, specifically the 10th hole, Olympian David Puig tees off early, opening the course in that section. Just 10 minutes later, also from the 10th tee, U.S. Amateur champion José Luis Ballester takes to the field, partnered with Richie Ramsay and Yannik Paul. From that moment on, there are many other interesting groups to choose from, depending on the spectators' preferences. One thing everyone agrees on is that the 1st hole, at 2:00 p.m., will be packed. Jon Rahm will tee off then, alongside Frenchman Matthieu Pavon – the reigning champion – and Austrian Sepp Straka. 

Spaniards at the top of the podium

Álvaro Quirós in the 2010 edition; Miguel Ángel Jiménez in 2014; Rafael Cabrera-Bello in 2021; and Jon Rahm, three times in 2018, 2019 and 2022, are the latest Spaniards to appear in the list of winners of the ACCIONA Open de España presented by Madrid, six victories in the last twelve events that highlight the strong prominence of Spanish golfers in the last stage of the history of this important tournament.

The Ryder Cup, very much present at the Villa de Madrid Country Club

Jon Rahm, Tommy Fleetwood, Tyrrell Hatton, Shane Lowry, and Sepp Straka share talent, class, and one more thing: all five participated in Europe's victory at the Ryder Cup in Rome last September. A fond memory that lends even more prestige to the tournament.

The photo that should never be missing

It's a tradition that before the ACCIONA Open de España presented by Madrid, the Spanish contingent gathers for the obligatory group photo. On the 18th green, where the winner will be decided on Sunday, Ángel Hidalgo, David Puig, Josele Ballester, and company came together. Laughter, hugs, reunions, and good vibes filled the air before the battle began. Jon was absent, yes, as he was in the United States awaiting the arrival of his third child, but his class was certainly not lacking.