The Spanish contingent at this year’s ACCIONA Open de España goes far deeper than their superstar Jon Rahm, and one player in particular is enjoying something of a rebirth in 2023; none other than Pablo Larrazábal.
With two wins so far this year, at the Korea Championship and the KLM Open in April and May, preceded by a further two last season, the Catalonian player’s second youth is showing no signs of waning. Four victories in the last 18 months made him a serious contender for Europe’s Ryder Cup Team, but he came up just short after a disappointing summer.
Now, without the added pressure of Ryder Cup qualification, and having rested for almost a month since his last tournament, Larrazábal arrives in Madrid intent on adding his name to the roll of honour at his home Open, an event in which he has previously finished second and third, albeit over a decade ago. Since that runner-up finish in 2012, Larrazábal has not enjoyed much luck at the Open de España, his best result since being 20th in 2021, with a solid performance at Club de Campo Villa de Madrid.
With nine wins to his name on the DP World Tour, Larrazábal can count himself among a very select group of Spanish players, but he would dearly love to lift this trophy at home in front of the Spanish crowds. Will this be the week that Pablo Larrazábal gets the monkey off his back and claims his tenth title?
