Jon Rahm: "Seve has three Spanish Opens and being able to equal my idol so soon would be incredible"

MADRID, 4 Oct. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The Spanish golfer Jon Rahm will compete again in the Acciona Open de España presented by Madrid 2022, which he won in the 2018 and 2019 editions and to which he arrives "with the intention of winning" because he would like to put his "name for the third time" with that of Severiano Ballesteros, as he could reach the triumphs of the Cantabrian.

"I come with the intention of winning, this is an important tournament for me and I would like to write my name for the third time to Seve's. In modern history the one who has the most I think is him with three and being able to match my idol so soon in my career it would be incredible", declared Rahm during the presentation this Tuesday of the tournament, held at the Madrid City Hall.

The Basque recognized that the Acciona Open de España is special for him because he can unite his "link with Madrid" and his "amateur career" with his professional stage. "I have been lucky enough to win cups like this in different amateur categories and I would like to feel that again," he added.

The Spaniard arrived at the 2021 edition as number one in the world and opting to win his third consecutive title, something he did not achieve, so now "there is less pressure." "Not because of the world ranking, but perhaps because of winning three in a row and what he had done last year. The same this year, because he had a bad year in quotes, it does take that pressure off a bit," he said.

Jon Rahm finds himself "in a different mindset", albeit "not more relaxed". "Yesterday I played 9 holes and the course is in fantastic condition. If the tournament organizers do well this weekend they can have fast, hard greens and have a very fun tournament," he said.

The one from Barrika explained that with such a "'green' so small, being accurate is more difficult", and that "this means that the winner will be very deserved". "I love going back to Spain and playing courses that are mythical, from almost a hundred years ago, which are unique designs and it is still a course that is difficult to take. It is an exam that I like, it has that essence that is special to me" , he pointed.

"The Spanish public, when they are called, usually appear, and if I can play well, it will be fun. Where I am in the world ranking matters more to you than to me and the public. Yes, there was a difference last year, when I came after winning the US Open and the Ryder Cup, playing those games killed me, left me very tired," he said.

Currently, the number six in the world declared that he is "in a good moment". "I am happy with all parts of my game, I have taken a few days off and it has been good for me to leave bad habits behind," he remarked.

The Spanish golfer also got wet about the controversy between the PGA circuit and the Saudi LIV. "The only regret I have is that certain players cannot play the Ryder. I would like Sergio (García) to be able to play it, but we'll see what happens. In the rest of the senses I have no problem, there is a league in which They offer a lot of money to play and I can't judge anyone," he explained.

"What I don't like is when there are certain negative comments in the press, that's plenty. If you've made your decision, be happy. I don't see it negatively because the PGA Tour has made so many good changes and I can only see it in a positive way because it has made the PGA Tour have to change," he said.

The winner of the last edition was the Spaniard Rafa Cabrera-Bello, who now arrives "with a very big smile" because "defending a title is something very special", and "even more so at the Spanish Open". "With permission from Jon (Rahm), Tommy (Fleetwood) and all my teammates I'm going to make it as hard as possible for them," he stated.

Cabrera-Bello acknowledges that he is "calmer this week" than he was "last year" in the previous one. "I arrived in different conditions, I was more lost. I still don't understand how I was able to find that bit of magic and recover that confidence that I needed to win the tournament. This year I feel much better, I consider that I am much more prepared than the last year," he said.

The canary has not yet "seen the field this year", although it is a route that he "loves". "It doesn't favor any type of player in particular, that's always an advantage. It's a very varied, balanced field, it doesn't have any easy or extremely difficult moments and you have to do all facets of the game well," he explained.

British Tommy Fleetwood, one of the big names at the event in Madrid, where he has never "played" but where he "eager to try" his game after having "seen the tournament in recent years" was also present. . The Englishman valued Spanish golf and his golfers, whom he has had "as partners" and as rivals.

"I'm very happy to return to Europe and I think it's the first time I'm in Madrid. It's a great city, everyone has been good to me. There have been great players here and having the opportunity to play in this tournament is great and I want to play", he confessed.