A wealth of data. Some more curious than others. All, interesting. We delve into the history of the Acciona Open of Spain since it joined the DP World Tour back in 1972. We insist: this report does not cover the entire history of the tournament, but since it joined the European Circuit. There are 50 editions, between 1972 and 2023.
– Do you know how many different players have competed in the Open of Spain since 1972? The answer is 1,553. It’s quickly said. Of all of them, how many are Spanish?. A total of 267. Therefore, Josele Ballester, the only one of ours making his debut this year, will wear the number 268. We thus answer the question in the title.
– How many different golfers have won the Open of Spain? The answer is 42. Of which, seven are Spanish. Namely: Seve Ballesteros, Jon Rahm, both with three victories each, and with one are Antonio Garrido, Sergio García, Álvaro Quirós, Miguel Ángel Jiménez and Rafa Cabrera Bello.
– Who has played the most editions of the Open of Spain being European Circuit? The answer is triple: Seve, Santi Luna and Pepín Rivero, with 30 participations. Just one tournament away from joining this exclusive trident is Miguel Ángel Jiménez. Hopefully one day he can do it. He deserves it. With 28 are Miguel Ángel Martín and Manolo Piñero. Of the Spaniards participating this week, Rafa Cabrera Bello is the one who has played the Open of Spain the most. This week he will reach number 20. Of the foreigners, the one who has played the most has been Sam Torrance (26) and of those playing this week it is Soren Kjeldsen (19). The little great Dane will also reach number 20 from Thursday.
– What Seve did is exceptional. Out of category. He is the one who has played the most, the one who has won the most, three like Jon Rahm, the one with the most top 10s (16, more than one every two Opens), more top 5s (10) and more top 3s (8). Simply, impressive. In top 10, after Seve are Piñero and Olazábal with eight. Of those playing this week, the best are Rafa Cabrera Bello and Rahm, with four each. The foreigner with the most top 10s is the Argentine Eduardo Romero with seven.
– The lowest score in a round in the history of the Open of Spain is 61 strokes and it has been achieved by Marcel Siem (2023), Ross McGowan (2021) and Wayne Riley (1988). The lowest round of a Spaniard is 62 strokes, of course, Jon Rahm.
– The country with the most victories in the Open of Spain is, well yes, Spain, with eleven victories. Don’t think it’s so logical. Until recently England dominated with ten, but in recent years it has been turned around with the four victories of Rahm and Rafa Cabrera Bello in the last five years.
– Finally, in terms of money earned, Jon Rahm is the one who has won the most, with 864,448 euros, followed by Peter Lawrie, how curious, with 802,063. The Irishman won once and has four top 5s. Obviously, the increase in prize money in recent years, in addition to his good results, has helped him lead this classification. Those who have won the least have been Stephen Evans, with 66 euros, and Ángel Miguel, with 70. A matter of times.
PS: We remind you that this compilation refers only to the Opens of Spain since it is part of the DP World Tour (1972).
