Jon Rahm is enjoying the time before the Open Championship, the second of his career after the one he played last year at Royal Troon, and his fifth major. He likes Royal Birkdale, the challenge and the constant references made to Severiano Ballesteros buzzing around the course. And it’s here where the legend from Cantabria earned his triumphant second place title in 1976, just behind Johnnie Miller and tied with Jack Nicklaus.
Rahm will arrive to Great Britain in perfect condition. He won his last tournament on a links, the Irish Open at Portstewart, and spent the entire last week practicing in Sotogrande and Valderrama. He’s hitting the ball well and with confidence, the perfect cocktail to make a mark on the British at Royal Birkdale.
He’s also got his expectations under control. Jon is here to win, evidently, but he knows very well that no tournament, and much less so a Major, is won on Thursday alone. He’s relaxed and convinced that he’ll follow the right path in his quest to secure a spot in the fight for the win on Sunday for the Claret Jug.
Rahm will play on Thursday starting at 4:59 pm, Spanish time, with Patrick Reed and Lee Westwood.
As always with the British Open, it’s important to keep an eye out on the weather. It looks as though it will be nice on Thursday as far as rainfall, sunny skies, but the wind will be blowing. The stronger gusts will come in the afternoon, around 45 kilometers per hour, but it doesn’t seem as though there will be much difference between the morning and the afternoon. That’s an advantage.
The worst will come on Friday. Much more wind and lots of rain. Classic day at the British Open. Rahm is prepared for battle.