Five things to know: acciona Open de España presented by Madrid

The Back 9 continues this week as Club de Campo Villa de Madrid hosts the 2024 acciona Open de España presented by Madrid. Here are your five things to know.

Rahm leads local charge

Jon Rahm is one of several home players to head to Madrid as he aims to become the first four-time winner in the event's 52-year history on the DP World Tour schedule. Rahm, who claimed victories in 2018, 2019 and 2022, is not the only former Spanish champion in the field as Rafa Cabrera Bello returns to the scene of his latest title win in 2021. Alvaro Quiros - the 2010 champion - is also in the stacked field alongside familiar names such as Nacho Elvira, Pablo Larrazábal, Jorge Campillo, Adrian Otaegui, Adri Arnaus and David Puig among the 24 Spanish players on the initial list of entries.

Ryder Cup stars on show in Madrid

Rahm will be joined by his Team Europe team-mates which regained the Ryder Cup at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club last September. Rahm was part of 'Team Angry' in Rome alongside Tyrrell Hatton, who will tee it up in Madrid. Tommy Fleetwood, Shane Lowry and Sepp Straka are three more members of the victorious 2023 team to head to Spain this weekend, while there are American rivals in Patrick Reed, who has featured in three biennial contests, and two-time Ryder Cup player Jimmy Walker.

Pavon's maiden win paves way to more success

Defending champion Matthieu Pavon powered to a maiden DP World Tour title in wire-to-wire style in the Spanish capital last October. The Frenchman arrived at Club de Campo Villa de Madrid with three runner-up finishes on both the European Challenge and DP World Tours, but had never won a European Tour group event despite being an incredibly consistent performer over eight seasons. There was extra meaning for Pavon as the victory came in the city of his late grandfather's birth, sparking emotional scenes on the final green following his four-shot triumph. The success has been a catalyst for the Frenchman to take his game to the next level. He has won on the PGA TOUR when lifting Farmers Insurance Open in January, which was followed by a third-placed finish at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am the next week. Pavon was also fifth at the Porsche Singapore Classic and the U.S. Open.

Back 9 continues in Spanish capital

The Back 9 hits the halfway mark in Madrid as Club de Campo Villa de Madrid hosts the fifth event. The top 110 players on the Race to Dubai Rankings in Partnership with Rolex at the conclusion of the nine-event stretch in October will earn their DP World Tour cards for 2025, while the top 70 qualify for Phase Three, the DP World Tour Play-Offs, which begins in November.

Sustainability drive continues

Spain's national open has forged a reputation as one of the leading sustainable tournaments on the DP World Tour. Boasting strong sustainability credentials, the event employs a range of measures aimed at reducing the event’s carbon footprint, which title partner Acciona offsets as well as planting trees to create a positive impact of a similar magnitude to that footprint. The organisers have also renewed the ISO 20121:2012 certification for the management of sustainable sports events until 2027. Like in previous years, among several recurring actions, there will be a complete reuse of structures built, spectators and media alike are being encouraged to use sustainable transport, while meals will be made using ingredients from local suppliers.