Jon Rahm eager to end Spanish drought at the Open Championship

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Spains Jon Rahm reacts during a practice round at Royal Portrush Golf Club in Northern Ireland on July 15.

PHOTO: REUTERS

PORTRUSH – Jon Rahm knows it has been 37 years since a Spaniard won the British Open, when the late Seve Ballesteros lifted his third Claret Jug in 1988.

The 30-year-old has had several close calls, with ties for second in 2023, third in 2021 and seventh in 2024. He also finished tied-11th the last time it was played at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland in 2019, when Irishman Shane Lowry won.

“I can’t really give you an answer why (it has been so long),” he said on July 15 as he prepared for the start of the 153rd Open on July 17.

“The way Seve played, it’s a bit of a different way to play on links courses. I think one of the reasons he was so loved in Britain and Ireland, because I don’t think anybody conceived that that was the way to play links golf – just hit driver everywhere and somehow find a way to put it on the green and chip and putt.

“It was not normal, which is a testament to how good of a golfer he was.”

Countrymen Jose Maria Olazabal and Sergio Garcia, both Masters champions, made strong runs at this tournament. Olazabal twice finished third and Garcia twice ended second.

“I think Sergio and I are obviously more known for being ball strikers,” Rahm said. “Ollie, besides the