MADRID – Jon Rahm returned to contention for a fourth title with seven birdies at the Spanish Open on Friday, but fellow Ryder Cup winner Shane Lowry failed to fully recover from his first day’s slump after failing to qualify.
Rahm started Thursday’s home tournament with a 72, but his 5-under 66 left him five shots behind leader Marco Penge (67).
Lowry got off to an even worse start with a 75 in the opening round — two weeks after making the clinching putt to win the European Ryder Cup — and Friday’s 68 wasn’t enough to avoid missing out by one stroke.
Penge had a perfect round with four birdies to lead the trio of Denmark’s Jeff Windsor, Switzerland’s Joel Garback and Canada’s Aaron Cockerill by one stroke.
Rahm tied for 18th place. He is on track to overtake Seve Ballesteros as the most successful golfer on the tournament since the European Tour was created in 1972.
This is Lahm’s seventh appearance for Madrid, having won in 2018, 2019 and 2022. In last year’s playoffs, he finished second to fellow Spaniard Angel Hidalgo.
Hidalgo will not be returning to take on Rahm this time around as the defending champion missed the cut after three overs.
