Jon Rahm is taking a long trip to the desert. The Spanish golfer has been without a win for fifteen months and physical ailments have prevented him from shining as expected in 2024. Now, he hopes to re-emerge in the British Open where on two occasions he had honey on his lips, which returns to Royal Troon (Ayrshire, Scotland) and which will feature 19 winners from the last ‘big’ season .
The 152nd edition of the British Open (it was first played in October 1860 with a victory by Willie Park Sr.) is the last of the four ‘greats’ of the season, it will be played from Thursday to Sunday for the tenth time at Royal Troon, which last hosted them in 2016.
Since moving to LIV, Rahm has only known team wins (a mode that is also played on the Saudi circuit). Several physical problems have prevented him from displaying all his golfing skills, especially in the other three ‘majors’ (Augusta Masters, PGA Championship, United States Open), without even achieving the cut in the second of them, which does not happen to him in the last 18 years.
Winner of two ‘big’ titles (2021 United States Open, 2023 Augusta Masters – his last victory), ‘Rambo’ will try to break his unusually unfavorable streak of fifteen months without a win in a tournament (excluding the Ryder Cup with Europe). He knows that he likes it, that it is the oldest of the ‘big four’, the one with the greatest tradition, and that he is very close to making it his own in 2023 (2nd place) and 2021 (3rd).
Royal Troon, founded in 1845, had its beginnings near the sea which can affect players depending on the wind, is a par 71 (36+35) of approximately 6,753 meters, with many narrow fairways.S. This is a typical Scottish course, where players accustomed to playing in PGA tournaments may be surprised.
For this reason, and to get acclimatized to the type of grass on the DP World Tour, several North American players played the Scottish Open (within the PGA Tour) at the Renaissance Club in Dirleton last weekend.
3.1 million for the winner
In the race for the precious trophy worth 3.1 million dollars for the winner (the largest cash prize in the history of the British Open), there will be 19 winners of this tournament: John Daly (1995), Justin Leonard (1997), Tiger Woods (2000, 2005, 2006), Ernie Els (2002, 2012), Todd Hamilton (2004), Padraig Harrington (2007, 2008), Stewart Cink (2009), Louis Oosthuizen (2010), Darren Clarke (2011), Phil Mickelson (2013), Rory McIlroy (2014), Zach Johnson (2015), Heinrich Stenson (2016), Jordan Spieth (2017), Francesco Molinari (2018), Shane Lowry (2019), Collin Morikawa (2021), Cameron Smith (2022) and Brian Harman (2023).
In addition to him, and as a great favorite, there will be the American Scottie Scheffler, top of the world rankings, winner of two Augusta Masters (2022, 2024) and winner of three other PGA tournaments this same year. Nor should we overlook his compatriot Bryson DeChambeau (recent winner of the United States Open).
Among the possible surprises, we have to keep an eye on the young Swede Ludvig Aberg, who has more than promising gifts; and the Englishman Tyrrell Hatton, now in LIV in Rahm’s team and with good results this year.
What is the ‘Spanish Navy’ made up of besides the ‘León de Barrica’? Jorge Campillo, Nacho Elvira, Angel Hidalgo, David Puig and the ‘amateurs’ Luis Masavu and Jaime Montojo.
Those who will not be there are Sergio Garcia, recent winner of the Andalusian Open and LIV Golf in Valderrama, and Joe, Not being able to score in this circuit for the world ranking of players, Borriol being classified outside the top 100 and not having won it before, will be a notable absence.
The Latin American representation also has important names such as the Mexican Abraham Ancer and the amateur Santiago de la Fuente, the Chilean Joaquin Niemann and the Argentine Emiliano Grillo. EFE.
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