Jon Rahm says he is “feeling confident” as he looks to end Spain’s 37-year wait for an Open Championship victory when the 153rd edition tees off at Royal Portrush this week.
The two-time Major winner is aiming to become only the second Spaniard to lift the Claret Jug, following in the footsteps of the legendary Seve Ballesteros – a three-time champion, with his final win coming in 1988.
“I always feel close. I’m always confident that I’m there,” Rahm told reporters on Tuesday. “Last week, especially on Sunday, it was very nice. It was a very good round of golf … So feeling good, feeling confident. Hopefully I can give it a run again this week.”
Rahm arrives in Northern Ireland in solid form, having posted top-10 finishes at both the PGA Championship and US Open this year. Most recently, he finished runner-up to Talor Gooch at LIV Golf Valderrama.
While Spain has produced multiple Major champions since Ballesteros, none have managed to break through at The Open. José María Olazábal twice finished third, and Sergio Garcia was runner-up in both 2007 and 2014.
Rahm has come close before, too – notably with a T3 finish in 2021 behind Collin Morikawa, and a T2 in 2023 as part of the chasing pack behind runaway winner Brian Harman.
“Obviously there’s been a few [Spanish contenders],” said Rahm. “The main ones, Ollie and Sergio, have had their chances. It’s never easy to win a Major, and it’s never easy to win an Open.”
The 30-year-old also has an eye on Europe’s Ryder Cup defence at Bethpage Black next year. But as a LIV Golf player, he currently sits 20th on the points list and will likely need a captain’s pick from Luke Donald.
“Yeah, it’s been on my mind,” Rahm admitted. “It’s been on my mind a year ago, and it will continue on my mind as long as I play golf in my career. The Ryder Cup is always there. Obviously when I wake up in the morning here, I’m thinking about this [The Open], but the Ryder Cup will always be on my mind.”
Photo: Pedro Salado/Getty Images
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