Open de Espana: Jon Rahm starts strong in bid to join Seve Ballesteros as three-time winner | Golf News

Kiradech Aphibarnrat and Darius van Driel ended the round with a birdie to share an early lead with Ashun Wu; two-time champion Jon Rahm a shot with a speed over seven under; watch the second round in Madrid live on Friday from 1pm on Sky Sports Golf

Jon Rahm plays the opening card of round 64 in Madrid

Jon Rahm got off to a strong start to become the first man to win the Acconia Open de Espana three times since Spaniard Seve Ballesteros by taking the lead in Madrid.

Rahm, who won the event in 2018 and 2019, mixed an eagle and six birds with a lone condor to post a seven under 64 at the Club de Campo Villa de Madrid and stay in touch with early starters Ashun Wu, Kiradech Aphibarnrat and Darius van Driel.

Starting in round 9 again, Rahm birdies on his opening hole and follows a 30-foot eagle at the 5th on the 14th with consecutive birdies from the 17th to his turn at 30.

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Daniel Gavins provided the perfect response to a four-man game with a hole in one at the Open de Espana.

Rahm bogey won his first par four after a silly tee shot sent him off the tree, only to post consecutive birdies from the fourth left and chips in from the eighth green to go down to seven.

“I’m happy that I can re-watch my last round with another really good round and keep the game going well,” Rahm said in his first game since the BMW PGA Championship. .

“It’s important to start strong, the course just gets harder and harder, so to come out in the morning and take advantage of the easier conditions is great.”

Wu set the pace early after his final three-hole birdie to post a no-magic 63, only for Aphibarnrat to move with him after five consecutive birdies from the 13th brought him down to eight below.

Wu and Aphibarnrat were then joined by Dutchman Van Driel as the 33-year-old played four of his last six holes.

Joakim Lagergren briefly held the lead until a hit on the last hole sent him out to fourth place with Rahm and Mathieu Pavon of France, while Scotland’s Stephen Gallacher and David Drysdale were the two losers. Shoot back over six under after 65 seconds of opening.

Eddie Pepperell and Paul Waring are the top Brits, sharing 14th place out of the bottom four.

Daniel Gavins scored a hole-in-one in his ninth par 3 en route to level 71 and defending champion Rafa Cabrera Bello opened his title defense with three of 74, while last year’s runner-up Adri Arnaus struggled. towel to five out of 76.

Watch the Acconia Open de Espana live throughout the week on Sky Sports. Live telecast continues Friday from 1pm on Sky Sports Golf and Sky Sports Main Event.