Rahm, Garcia in search of Spanish glory at Valderrama

SAN ROQUE, Spain – One Spanish captain seeks his first win this year. The other Spanish captain already has a victory in 2025 but has since lost his form.

Both hope to find what they’re looking for in front of friendly, adoring and supportive home fans at this week’s LIV Golf Andalucía.

However, it won’t be easy for Legion XIII’s Jon Rahm and Fireballs GC’s Sergio Garcia at Real Club Valderrama. The country’s most iconic course also is arguably its toughest.

“It’s extremely difficult … a challenge in every way,” Rahm said, adding that he “would put Valderrama in my top 5 of championship courses, for sure.”

His counterpart Garcia has been up to the task essentially every time he competes at Valderrama. When he won LIV Golf Andalucía’s individual title in a playoff last year, it was the Spanish legend’s fourth win at Valderrama across all tours. Of his 17 career starts at the course, he’s finished inside the top 10 an impressive 16 times.

Playing on his favorite course couldn’t come at a better time for Garcia.

After a blistering early-season run with a victory at LIV Golf Hong Kong, a fourth at International Series Macau and a third at LIV Golf Miami, Garcia’s form has deserted him the last three months. He’s failed to produce points (top 24 finish) in his last four LIV Golf starts. and he’s gone MC-T67-MC in his three non-LIV Golf events, two of those majors.

He managed to hold on to his top 5 position in the points standings, which earned him the LIV Golf exemption for next week’s Open Championship. He’s also attempting to prove he should be considered for the Ryder Cup in late September, although he’s been honest about his form. In May, he said he would not pick himself after his game went sour.

Now?

“As of the way I play yesterday, yes,” Garcia said Wednesday.

A recent conversation with European Ryder Cup Captain Luke Donald suggests Garcia is still in the picture, but the pressure is on to bounce back and perform – especially with The Open looming.

“We both know what we want,” Garcia said. “The only thing I can do is keep working hard, keep building my confidence up. If I’m able to do that, then it should be fine. We’ll see.”

It’s doubtful Rahm should be as worried about his Ryder Cup position, but a victory would certainly eliminate any lingering doubt.

His calling card has been consistency, with a string of 20 consecutive top-10 finishes in completed LIV Golf starts only ending with a T11 two weeks ago at LIV Golf Dallas. He’s also been top 10 in the last two majors, and top 15 in all three. The only other player who can say that this season in Scottie Scheffler.

And yet, Rahm has yet to celebrate an individual win since last September’s LIV Golf Chicago, which also clinched the season-long LIV Golf Individual Championship.

“I haven't played my best,” said Rahm, currently third in points this season thanks to all those top 10s. “Luckily with my swing mechanics, for most of my pro career, I've been able to be very consistent, even when I haven't felt to my full capacity. I think that's what we've seen.

“I'm hoping that, kind of like last year, I get to have a second push this year and play better. But it's very close. It's one of those things that it's a little bit frustrating because I feel how close it is and I feel how any given week, all the things are going to fall in line and I'm going to have a fantastic tournament, and hopefully it happens sooner than later.”

Unlike Garcia, Rahm’s results at Valderrama have been a mixed bag. His best result is a T2 at the 2019 Andalucía Masters, but he also missed two cuts in that DP World Tour event.

At last year’s LIV Golf Andalucía, he and Garcia both started the final round at even par and tied for 11th. But while Garcia forced a playoff with Anirban Lahiri by shooting a 66, Rahm could only manage an even-par 71.

He stayed and watched the playoff won by his fellow Spaniard.

“To be able to win at a challenging golf course at your home course, it's special,” Rahm said. “Playing with Sergio last year on Sunday and being there on 18 during the playoff and seeing the crowd embrace and what it meant to them at the end was so much fun to be a part of. …

“If my first win of the year would be here, it would be quite special.”

As Rahm spoke, his family were en route to joining him this week. Being able to celebrate a victory with his wife and kids would indeed be special. But no one does special at Valderrama more often than Garcia. Could be quite the batalla this weekend among the two Spanish legends.