Published July 17, 2008 on April 11, 2018

Home Win Major Goal for Cabrera Bello

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Rafa Cabrera Bello may have been competing in the Masters Tournament last week but there will be no let-up in intensity when he tees it up at the Open de España – an event he regards as a “fifth Major”.

One of the European Tour’s most prestigious events returns this week to the home of Spanish golf at Centro Nacional de Golf and the World Number 24, who will be joined in the field by fellow Spaniard and two-time European Tour winner Jon Rahm, admits it would be a dream come true to add his name to the trophy.

Bello said, “It’s obviously a dream to win the Spanish Open. It’s the biggest thing that you dream of when you’re a kid and you’re a Spaniard.

“It’s one of the oldest events in European Tour history and we’re very proud that it is the Spanish Open. It has great winners – a lot of them Spaniards as well, who are my idols – and it is definitely one trophy that I would like to add to my CV.

“I’m sure that we’re going to have really big crowds and I’m sure there will be a really big support by Spanish golfers. I’m very excited. For all Spaniards, it’s our fifth Major!

“We missed out on it last year and it’s been hard for the Spanish Federation to keep the event going. I know they’ve put a huge amount of work, together with the European Tour and the Madrid Golf Federation, for the event to be held this year.

“I know it came out a little late and we had to find a gap in the schedule to sneak it in but I’m very happy it is back.”

The tournament has an illustrious list of winners, with the likes of Arnold Palmer, Bernhard Langer and Sir Nick Faldo sitting alongside Spanish greats such as Seve Ballesteros, Sergio Garcia, and Miguel Ángel Jiménez.

Matt Wallace is looking to make it successive European Tour wins this week after he secured his second European Tour title at the Hero Indian Open in his last start. Victory for the Englishman at Centro Nacional de Golf would make him the first back-to-back winner since countryman Justin Rose at the end of 2017 and is now starting to feel truly at home on the European Tour.

Wallace is not the only Englishman arriving in Madrid in good form, with defending champion Andrew Johnston also sure to be feeling confident after going close in New Delhi but losing out in a play-off to the 27-year-old.

England’s Eddie Pepperell is also yet to play since claiming a maiden victory at the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters in February and is looking forward to the return of the Open de España to the European Tour’s International Schedule, as is Grégory Bourdy. The Frenchman had a top ten the last time it was held here in 2007 is delighted to be in the Spanish capital.