Club de Campo Villa de Madrid witnessed an unforgettable day on Wednesday. The fairways of the Madrid course hosted a star-studded Pro-Am. Carlos Alcaraz, tennis world number one and two-time Grand Slam champion in 2025, shared a group with Jon Rahm, three-time winner of the Open de España and recent hero of the Ryder Cup. The fourball was completed by Feliciano Lopez, former professional tennis player and now director of the Mutua Madrid Open, and Borja Pacido Vera, a friend of the Murcia native’s.
In the relaxed pre-tournament atmosphere, the group made the most of the day, enjoying a friendly match on the Black Course during which the banter was flying, as well as the occasional competitive glance. Alcaraz proved once again that his love affair with golf is here to stay. There’s no wiping the smile off his face when he takes to the fairways.
It was the first Pro-Am experience for ‘Carlitos’ and he approached it with a combination of excitement and, of course, humility. “I was really tense”, he admitted with a laugh as he stepped off the first tee. Not even a six-time Grand Slam winner is immune to the pressure of an opening tee shot.
With five holes behind him, the Murcia native began to relax and his true colours shone through. On the 6th he hit the shot of the day, a 190 yard iron up the hill to just 10 feet. The shot even drew a compliment from Rahm. “What an iron!” exclaimed the Basque, who was himself looking very solid with driver in hand.
The camaraderie between the two Spaniards was clear from the start. Amid the jibes and laughter, Rahm even gave the tennis players a few swing tips and Feliciano Lopez also chimed in with some of his own friendly digs. The group certainly enjoyed their nine holes together.
On the back nine, Alcaraz was joined by Shane Lowry, a former Open Champion and one of the heroes of the recent Ryder Cup. The Spaniard thoroughly enjoyed his time alongside the Irishman, who was impressed by a couple of bunker shots from the tennis player, one of which very nearly found the bottom of the cup.
Under the surface, however, there was a serious side to the matches, which provided a glimpse of Rahm’s form as he embarks upon a campaign to claim his fourth title at the Open de España presented by Madrid. The Basque looked at ease, striking the ball confidently while fine-tuning his technique, as is to be expected in the buildup to a big tournament.
The sight of Rahm and Alcaraz strolling down the fairways of Club de Campo, side-by-side, without the noise of the crowds they are both accustomed to, captured the essence of Wednesday; an intimate and entertaining day, but with a hint of anticipation for the excitement to come.
The Open de España kicks off on Thursday with the best golf in the world, but this morning’s postcard image of Rahm and Alcaraz will surely be one of the most special of the week. It was, without question, a Wednesday to remember.
