We assume that golf is undoubtedly the most uncertain sport, the most disconcerting, the one in which the most surprises can occur. So a victory for Ángel Hidalgo (-13) this Sunday at the Spanish Open should not catch anyone off guard, especially with the Malaga native leading alone, with a two-stroke advantage over his immediate pursuers. Nor should it be surprising if David Puig (-10), the third member of the star match alongside Hidalgo and Jon Rahm (-11), could claim victory. It’s not even ruled out that a dark horse could emerge from the second or third line, sign a 61 and leave everyone else in the dust…
But in this tournament, for a few years now, since 2018 to be more precise, certainties are more certain because there is a guy who has become the great monopoliser. Of attention, of the media, of the fans, and above all, above all things, of the results. Jon is competing for the sixth time in the Spanish Open, he has already won it three times in his first five appearances and his cumulative score in this tournament is -105 in 23 rounds, a real absurdity, because the simple division reveals that this guy, in this tournament, averages 4.5 strokes below par in each round. Well, that’s a fabulous absurdity.
In favour of the Barrika native is the fact that his two main rivals, Hidalgo and Puig, have not found themselves in a similar situation. Neither of them has been in the star match on a Sunday at the DP World Tour, and much less, of course, at a Spanish Open, an event in which, for them, the torrent of emotions is even more overwhelming. “But hey, if you want to do great things in this sport, sooner or later you will have to overcome these kinds of situations that arise,” pointed out Rahm after signing that splendid scorecard of 65 strokes, the second best record of the day just when things are getting really serious, on the moving day.
“Jon, in ninety-nine percent of the possibilities, is going to play very good golf tomorrow, so if I want to win I have to play the best golf of the week,” acknowledges Hidalgo. Beyond whether the Basque is going to play very well or not so well, what can be scientifically raised to a specific percentage is that Jon, on the Black course of the Country Club, has played 19 competition rounds and his average strokes on this course is 66.52 strokes (only on two occasions has he signed scores above par, both scorecards of 72 strokes).
The Country Club course is not the most difficult of the year for professionals, of course, although it has its tricks and can catch the most painted if not fine. But Rahm, it must be acknowledged, plays it with infinite determination, with disproportionate security, even for his standards of great dominator. It is impossible, therefore, not to grant him the label of great favourite, even starting tomorrow two strokes from a leader who has shown more than enough this week of his abilities. And his courage.
