The 2026 Open de España begins this Thursday in Madrid. Patrick Reed enters the tournament as the leader of the Race to Lundin, looking to extend his 300-point advantage over Rory McIlroy. The event features a massive field of stars, though home favorite Jon Rahm will not compete.
The Race for the top of the standings
The battle for the Race to Lundin trophy is the main event in Spain. Patrick Reed holds a significant lead with only five DP World Tour events left in the season. According to Sky Sports, Reed is roughly 300 points ahead of Rory McIlroy. This is a huge gap to close. Reed has been the leader since February, thanks to wins at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic and the Qatar Masters. He also had a close call in a playoff at the Bahrain Championship.
Reed is also playing through physical pain. He had to pull out of the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth last month because of a shoulder issue. Sky Sports reports that Reed felt “uncomfortable” but believes he is “able to perform and do what I’m supposed to do in swinging the golf club.” He noted that the injury was a surprise. He said, “Never saw it coming. It was my first time withdrawing during a round of golf due to injury.” Despite the pain, the 36-year-old American has “no excuses” for his performance this week.
The stakes go beyond the current trophy. Players are fighting for points that help with Ryder Cup spots. They are also playing for automatic invites to the 2027 Masters and the Open Championship. This makes every shot in Madrid count for the rest of the season.
A heavyweight field without Jon Rahm
The player list in Madrid is incredibly deep, even without the biggest local star. The tournament features names like Justin Rose, Shane Lowry, Bubba Watson, and Francesco Molinari. Young talent Ludvig Aberg and veteran Sergio Garcia are also in the mix. Marco Penge, the defending champion, is part of this elite group. Penge is coming off a great year where he won in Madrid to earn his first Masters invite. According to the Associated Press, Penge said, “Obviously, winning here got me an invitation to play at the Masters, which was an unbelievable experience for myself and my family, and a dream of mine when I was a young boy.”
However, the biggest local draw is missing. Jon Rahm is not playing this week. While he has won this event three times, he is currently in the U.S. Tournament organizers announced on Tuesday that Rahm will not compete. Spanish media reports suggest he is waiting for the birth of his fourth child. This is a big loss for the local fans. Rahm previously dominated this course in 2022 with a score of 25-under par. Without him, the door is wide open for a new winner.
The field is also diverse in its origins. There are 10 players from LIV Golf competing this week. This mix of players makes the tournament a true global test. Penge even noted that the strength of the field is likely the best the event has seen lately.
The challenge of Club de Campo Villa de Madrid
The course itself will test the players’ precision. The Black Course at Club de Campo Villa de Madrid is a par 71 layout. It measures 7,154 yards and was built by Javier Arana. This track has been the home of the tournament since 2019. It is a tree-lined course that requires great iron play and accurate drives. The greens slope heavily, which can punish mistakes.
Weather will play a major role in the scoring. If the wind stays low, the course can become very easy to score on. History shows that low scores are common here when the air is still. The layout also provides great views for fans. The course has built-in areas that look like an amphitheater, which helps create a loud atmosphere during the final rounds. For players like Reed, who wants to be a “worldwide player,” mastering a tricky course like this is the goal. According to Sky Sports, he recalled Gary Player advising him that becoming a global player requires competing beyond the PGA Tour.
