
A seething Jon Rahm bemoaned the vagaries of the winds whipping around in Madrid after a one-over-par 72 left him six off joint first-round leaders Marco Penge and Frederic Lacrorix at the Open de Espan presented by Madrid.
Even holing a bunker shot for an eagle at the par-five 14th and knocking his approach to five feet for birdie at the next on what was his front nine – failed to improve his mood as back-to-back bogeys immediately after the turn were followed by another dropped shot at the par-three ninth.
The Ryder Cup-winning Spaniard, seeking a record fourth success at his home event, could barely bring himself to speak in his post-round interview.
“Frustrating day. You couldn’t ask a harder question right now. I’m so angry and I want to be so sarcastic,” he said on Sky Sports Golf.
“I struggled with the wind to be honest. There were a lot of swings that came out the way I wanted to and the wind didn’t affect it the way I wanted it to.
“I didn’t feel like I played that badly and the score is not nearly where I wanted to be.”
However, his playing partner and European team-mate Shane Lowry fared even worse on his return to action after holing the putt which retained the Ryder Cup.
The Irishman looked out of sorts in carding six bogeys and just two birdies in a round of 75, so faces a race just to make the cut after Friday’s second round which begins at 1pm, live on Sky Sports Golf.
England’s Penge, third in the Race to Dubai rankings behind Rory McIlroy and Tyrrell Hatton courtesy of two wins this season, claimed a share of the lead after a round of 66, which was subsequently matched by Frenchman Frederic.
Penge had a bogey-free back nine at the Madrid’s Club de Campo, including three birdies, and had earlier eagled the par-five fourth.
“It was pretty challenging out there. The greens are really small, so I managed my game well,” said the 27-year-old.
“I hit some terrible shots but it’s golf! You can be conservative off the tee but you won’t hit the fairway every time, so I just thought I would use the driver and get it as far down the hole and figure it out.”
Watch the Open de Espana presented by Madrid this week with second round coverage from Friday at 1pm, live on Sky Sports Golf. Stream the DP World Tour, PGA Tour, LPGA Tour and more contract-free with NOW.

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