Open de España 2026 preview, picks & betting tips

The DP World Tour heads to Madrid this week for the 2026 Open de España, where Jon Rahm, defending champion Marco Penge, Tyrrell Hatton and Shane Lowry are among the headline names at Club de Campo Villa de Madrid.

We look at the field, course, form of the leading contenders and the players to watch before revealing our Open de España picks and betting tips.

Open de España 2026 Preview

Jon Rahm finds himself in a strange position as he tees it up at the Open de España at Club de Campo Villa de Madrid this week.

He finished a whopping 19 shots behind winner Shane Lowry at the Irish Open before being dead last at the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth, where he missed the cut by a country mile.

With his LIV future shrouded in uncertainty, he finished second at the US PGA but his form in the other three majors was disappointing, to say the very least.

He will now be looking for a big finish to the campaign and what better place to start than in his homeland?

There is another fascinating part to the Rahm conundrum. Should he get his act together and secure one of the 10 PGA Tour cards up for grabs, how would it play out? He was eligible for the tour’s Returning Programme earlier this year but steadfastly refused to take advantage of a system that saw Brooks Koepka coming back.

Rahm was extremely reluctant to pay his DP World Tour fines and he would surely be sanctioned if he chooses to return to America in 2027. And with LIV’s future still up in the air, that remains a very real possibility.

Patrick Reed is going to find himself in a similar position. The Race to Dubai leader has already locked up his card and so far there has been no indication as to what he may have to cough up to return to the PGA Tour.

Whatever happens next, there can be little doubt that Rahm will relish being back on Spanish soil. Few players in the field have a better record in their national open and the Madrid galleries will once again be firmly behind him.

Can Jon Rahm Win a Fourth Open de España?

An ever-present at his national open since winning on his debut in 2018, Rahm is set for his eighth appearance.

Champion also in 2019 and 2022, Rahm finished runner-up to countryman Angel Hidalgo in a play-off in 2024 and will attempt to surpass Seve Ballesteros with a fourth triumph.

Twice a LIV winner this season, he will be a big draw for fans at Club de Campo Villa de Madrid.

And that record is impossible to ignore when assessing his chances. Rahm's recent form may raise some questions but returning to Spain has regularly brought out the best in him.

He won by five shots in 2019 and by six in 2022, when a sensational closing 62 took him to 25 under par. Add his runner-up finish in 2024 and there is ample evidence that Rahm feels entirely at home at Club de Campo.

Recent form means he may not be the automatic selection he once would have been, but nobody should be surprised if the sight and sound of a passionate Spanish gallery sparks him back into life.

Tyrrell Hatton Returns to Madrid

And what about Tyrrell Hatton?

The eight-time DP World Tour winner will be back in Madrid. Like Rahm, he also remains contracted to LIV for the time being and, like Rahm, he also paid his outstanding fines to the DP World Tour. He is more likely to spend 2027 on the DP World Tour.

"I'm looking forward to returning to the Open de España,” said Hatton. “It's a tournament with so much history, Club de Campo is a fantastic venue, and the support from the fans always makes it a great week. I'm excited to be back and hopefully in contention on Sunday."

Hatton adds yet more proven quality to an excellent field and returns to Madrid having finished inside the top 10 on his last appearance in 2024.

Spanish Players to Watch

Spaniards normally do well in this event - Rafa Cabrera Bello won in 2021 and Angel Hidalgo triumphed in 2024 - and it has to be said that there will be a formidable home presence this week, with David Puig, Eugenio Chacarra, Hidalgo and Rahm all likely to figure. And Pablo Larrazábal will need to try and salvage something from his season so far.

Rahm will inevitably command most of the attention but he is far from the only Spaniard capable of contending.

Chacarra is enjoying an excellent Race to Dubai campaign and produced another strong performance at the recent Open de France, while Hidalgo has already demonstrated that he can handle the pressure of trying to win his national championship.

And then there is Puig, another enormously talented Spaniard who possesses the sort of aggressive game that can produce birdies in bunches when everything clicks.

Marco Penge Returns as Defending Champion

Ineligible for this week’s limited-field Baycurrent Classic, Marco Penge returns from America and his quest to retain his PGA Tour card to defend what was his third victory of 2025.

It has been something of a rollercoaster ride for the Englishman this year. His first season as a dual PGA Tour and DP World Tour member has been interrupted by health issues affecting his ear, neck and nervous system, forcing him to take time away from competitive golf.

But he returned to action during the summer and will surely take confidence from being back at a venue where he produced one of the greatest weeks of his career.

Last year he defeated fellow Englishman Daniel Brown in a play-off.

Penge held a four-shot lead over nearest challenger Joel Girrbach going into the final round, while he was five shots better off than Brown. However, he only had a one-shot advantage going to the 18th on the final day.

After he made par to finish with a one-over 72 for his final round at Club de Campo, Brown sank a birdie putt for a 67 which forced a play-off as both finished on 15 under.

At the first time of asking in the sudden-death play-off, Penge birdied the 18th with an eight-foot putt to secure a third DP World Tour title of the season.

That victory completed a remarkable 2025 season in which Penge won three times, finished second on the Race to Dubai and earned PGA Tour membership.

His 2026 campaign has been far more difficult, but returning to the scene of such a significant victory could be precisely what he needs.

Why This Week Matters in the Race to Dubai

This is an important week for many players in the field. There are just three tournaments left before the two season-ending play-off tournaments.

It means there are those still fighting to keep their cards playing alongside others whose mission is to make it to the play-offs, while the leading contenders also have the incentive of trying to secure one of the PGA Tour cards available through the Race to Dubai.

Tom Vaillant proved at the French Open how one good finish can change things. Since graduating from the HotelPlanner Tour in 2023, the Frenchman has failed to make it to the play-offs in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

But he had a week to remember as he played his way into the final group at Le Golf National, where a closing 70 saw him finish in a tie for third. It saw the 24-year-old climb 25 places to 59th on the Race to Dubai Rankings, with the top 70 available qualifying players making the Abu Dhabi Championship and the top 50 appearing at the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai.

Another player to close in on the top 50 was Guido Migliozzi, with the Italian climbing 13 places on the season-long standings after finishing in a share of seventh place at a venue where he won one of his four DP World Tour titles in 2022.

With 5,000 Race to Dubai points available in Madrid, another big move could transform somebody's season.

Club de Campo Villa de Madrid Course Guide

Club de Campo Villa de Madrid is a par 71 designed by Javier de Arana. It is tree lined and puts a premium of accuracy from the tee.

But accuracy alone will not win the Open de España. The course has shown that it can surrender plenty of birdies when conditions allow, with Rahm reaching 25 under par in 2022.

Last year's tournament provided a tougher examination, with Penge and Brown finishing on 15 under before the Englishman prevailed in their play-off.

Rahm himself highlighted how firm conditions can dramatically change the challenge, pointing to the small greens and demanding pin positions after last year's event.

That makes this an interesting course from a betting perspective. Proven ball-strikers who can keep the ball in play should have an advantage, but whoever wins is also going to need to produce plenty of birdies when opportunities present themselves.

Past Open de España Winners

It was won in 2015 by James Morrison, in 2016 by Andrew Johnston, in 2018, 2019 and 2022 by Jon Rahm, in 2021 by Rafa Cabrera Bello, in 2023 by Matthieu Pavon, in 2024 by Angel Hidalgo and last year by Marco Penge. There was no tournament in 2017 or 2020.

Recent history certainly points towards taking the Spanish challenge seriously. Rahm has won three times, Cabrera Bello lifted the trophy in 2021 and Hidalgo defeated Rahm in that memorable play-off in 2024.

Open de España Form Guide

This is a tough one to call. Jon Rahm’s recent form has been pretty poor but playing in front of a home crowd always brings the best out of him.

However, I fancy Marco Penge’s chances of a successful title defence.

There is obvious risk attached to Penge after such a difficult year but there are few better places for him to rediscover his best golf. He knows the course, has the memories of winning here 12 months ago and has already proved that his power and ball-striking can unlock Club de Campo.

Rahm remains the obvious danger because of his extraordinary record in this tournament, while Chacarra's form and position near the top of the Race to Dubai make him another Spaniard who demands attention.

Open de España Betting Tips & Picks

To Win: Marco Penge

Don't be surprised to see him in the mix again.

Penge is our selection to successfully defend the title he won in dramatic circumstances 12 months ago.

There is no pretending that 2026 has gone according to plan. Health issues interrupted his season and his first year balancing life on the PGA Tour and DP World Tour has presented challenges he simply did not face during his brilliant 2025 campaign.

But this is a golfer who won three times on the DP World Tour last season and finished second on the Race to Dubai. More importantly for this week, he has already demonstrated exactly how to plot his way around Club de Campo.

His rounds of 66, 67 and 64 over the opening three days last year underline how comfortable he can be on this golf course. A successful title defence would be no surprise.

Each-Way Pick: Jon Rahm

Home favourite.

Normally Rahm would be the obvious choice to win this tournament. Recent form makes that more difficult, but his Open de España record means he simply cannot be ignored.

Three victories, another runner-up finish and the prospect of playing in front of an enormous home support provide compelling reasons to expect an improvement.

Rahm has repeatedly demonstrated that playing in Spain means something different to him. If that inspires him to rediscover his best golf, he will surely challenge for a fourth title.

Each-Way Pick: Eugenio Chacarra

Has every shot in the book.

Chacarra arrives as one of the leading players on the Race to Dubai and has another opportunity to make an impression in his national open.

He was third at the recent Open de France after producing a superb third-round 62 and currently sits among the leading players on the season-long standings.

With home support behind him and confidence in his game, he looks like a fascinating alternative to the more obvious Spanish selection of Rahm.

Five Players to Follow at the Open de España

Marco Penge

Brilliant ball-striker.

The defending champion endured a difficult final round here last year but found a way to get the job done when it mattered. His 2026 season has been disrupted, but the memories of Madrid should provide a significant lift.

Jon Rahm

Going for a fourth win.

Nobody in the field boasts a better modern record in the Open de España. Rahm won in 2018, 2019 and 2022 and came agonisingly close again in 2024. Recent form is a concern but this is his national championship and he will desperately want to surpass Seve Ballesteros with victory number four.

Eugenio Chacarra

Has a touch of Seve about him.

Chacarra's aggressive style makes him one of the most entertaining golfers in the field and he arrives in Madrid sitting prominently in the Race to Dubai. His recent third-place finish in France provides further encouragement.

David Puig

Fabulous Spanish golfer.

Another hugely talented home player who will receive plenty of support. Puig has the power and attacking instincts to make a lot of birdies and should relish another opportunity to perform in front of Spanish galleries.

Shane Lowry

Wondrous short game.

Lowry brings major-winning quality to Madrid and arrives as one of the biggest names in the field. His touch around the greens could prove especially useful if Club de Campo plays firm and demanding.

Five Outsiders to Watch

Marcus Armitage

Always good value.

Armitage is capable of producing excellent golf when everything clicks and is precisely the sort of experienced DP World Tour player who can outperform expectations in a national open.

Matteo Manassero

Mixed year.

The Italian's career revival has already demonstrated that he still possesses the game to compete at this level. His inconsistency makes him difficult to trust completely, but there is enough quality there to make him interesting.

Guido Migliozzi

Italian underachiever.

Migliozzi arrives with something to build on after his top-10 finish at the Open de France pushed him closer to the top 50 on the Race to Dubai. He is a four-time DP World Tour winner and unquestionably has the ability to contend in Madrid.

Pablo Larrazabal

Almost the last-chance saloon.

The veteran Spaniard will have plenty of home support and knows how to win on the DP World Tour. With opportunities running out as the season approaches its conclusion, he needs to make something happen.

Manuel Elvira

Trying to put Wentworth nightmare behind him.

Another Spaniard with the opportunity to use home support as the catalyst for a big week. He will be looking to put recent disappointments behind him and finish the season strongly.

Open de España Prize Money

The total prize fund for the 2026 Open de España is $3.75 million.

There are also 5,000 Race to Dubai points and 1,500 Ryder Cup points available, while the winner will earn a place in the 2027 Masters.

How to Watch the Open de España

The Open de España will be shown live in the UK on Sky Sports Golf.

Thursday, October 8: Sky Sports Golf, 1pm

Friday, October 9: Sky Sports Golf, 1pm

Saturday, October 10: Sky Sports Golf, 12.30pm

Sunday, October 11: Sky Sports Golf, midday