LIV Golf’s Jon Rahm returned to the DP World Tour by opening up with a three-under-par 68 in the 2024 acciona Open de España presented by Madrid.

The Legion XIII skipper, who joined LIV Golf in December, withdrew from Wednesday’s pro-am while waiting on his wife Kelley’s delivery of their third child. The Spanish publication Marca reported she had the baby on Tuesday, allowing Rahm to make his way to the tournament in time for his Thursday tee time.

Rahm – winner of his home open in 2018, 2019 and 2022, the latter two at this venue – sandwiched birdies at the fourth, eighth and 13th with bogeys at the third and 16th.

The ten-time DP World Tour winner finished in style with a 27-foot birdie putt at the penultimate hole before a perfect drive, chip and putt at the last to sit alongside compatriot Adri Arnaus and China’s Ashun Wu at three under.

“I was telling somebody before the round, I think it was my family, even maybe yesterday,” said Rahm

“Just flying in yesterday afternoon, not having touched a club in a while, and you know, between being sick and hospital beds, I was like — with the wind forecasted, if I could somehow break 75, I’ll be happy and see if I can work myself into the tournament.”

Leading the way is fellow Spaniard Angel Hidalgo, who delighted the home fans with a six-under-par 65 for a two-shot first-round lead.

On an otherwise tough day of scoring at Club de Campo Villa de Madrid, the big-hitting Hidalgo demolished the front nine in just 30 strokes and maintained his score despite a late wobble.

“It’s different. I’m not going to lie,” said Hidalgo.

“You feel the love. You feel the support. Yeah, it’s incredible playing at home, and I wish that we could play more tournaments here.”

His nearest challengers were Julien Guerrier, Sepp Straka and Sam Bairstow after rounds of 67, with three-time champion Jon Rahm in the group a further shot back.

Two more Spaniards, amateur Luis Masaveu and Rahm’s Olympic team-mate David Puig, were at two under alongside England’s Tommy Fleetwood and Sam Jones of New Zealand. Meanwhile, defending champion Mathieu Pavon was in a large group at one under.

Main Image: Andrew Redington