Jon Rahm reignites his bid for a fourth Spanish Open title, but not all Ryder Cup heroes are finding success this week. On Friday, Rahm energized his campaign at the Spanish Open by sinking seven birdies, climbing back into the running after a slow start. Meanwhile, fellow Ryder Cup star Shane Lowry struggled to shake off a rough first day and ultimately fell short, missing the cut. Rahm carded an impressive 5-under 66, moving to just five shots behind the English leader, Marco Penge, who shot a solid 67 and had started with a 72 on Thursday at his home tournament. In contrast, Lowry’s opening round of 75—a significant stumble given he’d just sealed Europe’s Ryder Cup victory with a clutch putt two weeks earlier—proved too much to overcome; despite a stronger 68 on Friday, he missed the cut by a single stroke. Penge, in excellent form, nailed four birdies with a near-perfect round, giving him a one-stroke lead over a competitive trio: Denmark's Jeff Winther, Switzerland's Joel Girbach, and Canada's Aaron Cockerill. Rahm currently sits tied for 18th place, chasing history as he strives to surpass the legendary Seve Ballesteros to become the tournament’s most successful player since the European Tour’s inception in 1972. This marks Rahm’s seventh time competing in Madrid, with past victories in 2018, 2019, and 2022, and a memorable runner-up finish in a playoff against fellow Spaniard Angel Hidalgo just last year. Speaking of Hidalgo, the defending champion won’t be part of the fight this time around, having missed the cut at three over par. But here’s where it gets controversial: Can Rahm overcome the pressure of breaking such a storied record on home soil, or is the weight of expectations too heavy? And what does Lowry’s swift fall after Ryder Cup glory say about the mental and physical demands players face? Share your thoughts—do you think Rahm’s comeback signals a dominant run or just a momentary surge?
