Rahm Retains Spanish Title

World number five, Jon Rahm has won the Spanish Open title after coming in as the defending champion.

The Spanish star entered the final game with five shots ahead of every other contestant and finished the game by putting in five-under-par. That is five shots ahead of fellow Spaniard Rafa Cabrera. At third place was world number 1,413, Samuel Del Val, who finished three under 38, making it the best finish of his career, setting the final of the event as a Spanish affair.

Rahm displayed a great level of confidence, although he fumbled a bit, as he finished the game with five shots ahead of the rest. Winning the title for the second year in a row makes him the second person to do so since Max Faulkner did it in 1953. This would also be his fifth European tour title, and his second for the year after winning the Irish Open in July.

Another record has also been set here as Rahm achieved his fifth title in his 39th outing, while Seve Ballesteros, a golfing legend, achieved the same feat in his 49th start, 10 more than Rahm, making him the fastest Spanish man to do so. Now, that is truly remarkable. As it stands now, Rahm leads the Race to Dubai leaderboard since his win saw him overtake Shane Lowry.

The star, who was home favorite, started the game on a poor start, making three pars, before hitting in an impressive eagle, and following it with two birdies. He made two more birdies on the 10 and 14 to take his lead further. However, a bad shot at the 17 saw him make a bogey. It was this mistake that closed the gap between him and Cabrera, who took the opportunity to make birdies. But he could not just outdo the defending champion.

He would later say after the match that he intended to end the match bogey-free. Despite winning, he also acknowledged that the game might not have been his best, and he hopes to do better next year.

 
 
Written by: Leon Osamor