Jon Rahm’s Love Affair with the Spanish Open - Chasing History with a Fourth Title

By Jack Nicolas | JN Sport Correspondent

There are few golfers in the modern era who wear their national pride as visibly and passionately as Jon Rahm. For the Spanish superstar, the Spanish Open isn’t just another event on the DP World Tour calendar , it’s personal. It’s where his roots, legacy, and ambition intersect. And in 2025, Rahm stands on the verge of etching his name even deeper into Spanish golf history as he eyes an extraordinary fourth Spanish Open title.

A Rich History Forged in Red and Yellow

Rahm’s relationship with the Spanish Open runs deeper than stats and scorecards. Born in Barrika, Rahm grew up idolizing Spanish legends like Seve Ballesteros, whose fiery passion and flair redefined the sport for a generation of European golfers. Seve won the Spanish Open three times during his career, and it's no coincidence that Rahm now stands shoulder to shoulder with him in that category.

When Rahm first lifted the trophy in 2018 at Centro Nacional de Golf in Madrid, it felt like a torch had been passed. At just 23 years old, Rahm dominated the field with the same kind of charisma and command that once made Seve a national icon. That first victory wasn’t just a win , it was a homecoming.

He repeated the feat in 2019 and again in 2022, each time playing with the kind of emotion and fire rarely seen in the often-mechanical world of elite golf. Each win was met with thunderous home crowds, chants of “¡Vamos, Jon!” ringing across the fairways, and a tear or two from the champion himself.

What a Fourth Win Would Mean

Should Rahm capture a fourth Spanish Open, he wouldn’t just be adding another trophy to his growing collection , he would be making history. A fourth victory would put him ahead of Ballesteros and tie him with Ángel de la Torre for the most Spanish Open titles ever (De la Torre won four in the early 20th century, between 1916 and 1925). But more than that, it would symbolize Rahm’s full-circle journey from a young fan of Spanish golf to its modern-day standard bearer.

And Rahm knows the weight of that legacy. “To win in front of my people, my country, with the history of Seve behind it ; it's a feeling like no other,” he once said after a win. “This isn’t just a golf tournament for me. It’s family. It’s home.”

More Than a Tournament

The Spanish Open has often been overlooked on the global golf stage, sandwiched between bigger-money events on the PGA Tour. But Rahm has been instrumental in elevating its profile. His consistent commitment to play, even at the height of his PGA Tour dominance and now as a LIV Golf figure, signals just how much this tournament matters to him , and how much it could mean to the next generation of Spanish golfers.

His presence draws fans, media, and young hopefuls to the course. It reminds them that greatness can come from Spanish soil. That heroes aren’t just American or British , they can be Basque, proud, and roaring in their mother tongue after every birdie.

The Road Ahead

As Rahm tees it up in pursuit of his fourth title, the weight of history will be there, but so too will the wind at his back —, a nation watching, a legacy unfolding, and a chance to surpass even Seve in one of the sport’s most sentimental venues.

Whether he hoists the trophy again or not, Rahm’s love affair with the Spanish Open has already become the stuff of legend. But something tells us , he’s not done writing this story just yet.

Stay tuned for coverage of the 2025 Spanish Open, and follow