Halfway joint leader Rafa Cabrera-Bello has gone bogey free for 36 holes around Club de Campo Villa de Madrid. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

RAFA Cabrera-Bello and Adri Arnaus lead a Spanish quartet at the top of the leaderboard at the halfway stage of the Open de España, delighting the home crowds at Club de Campo Villa de Madrid.

The pair carded rounds of 65 and 66 respectively, sharing the lead on 11-under par, with Cabrera-Bello going bogey-free for the second consecutive day.

Cabrera-Bello, who came close to winning the Spanish Open as an amateur when it was held in his native Canary Islands back in 2002, said: “You don’t get to go bogey free very often, and two days in a row.

“I’m not sure how many times I’ve done that. I’m very pleased with how I’m playing, I’m feeling confident out there and in control of my game. Lots of good shots and when I get into trouble, I’ve been saving par, it’s great.

“Yesterday was a dream day, and today we had it again – I think we’re minus-31 for the three of us, which is remarkable.

“We’re feeding off each other and off the crowd. Bouncing off each other, it’s amazing,” added Cabrera-Bello, who is coached by David Leadbetter, and made his Ryder Cup debut in Europe’s defeat by the USA at Hazeltine, in 2016.

The Canary Islander is hunting his first victory since the 2017 Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open, while Arnaus is hoping to go one better than his three runner-up finishes so far in his rookie European Tour season.

Rookie Adri Arnaus is sharing the lead in the Spanish Open, looking to improve on his three runners-up finishes in 2019. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

Arnaus, who has finished second in Kenya, the Czech Republic already this season, said: “I’m really proud of how I’ve played these first two rounds.

“I’ve enjoyed it so much with the support of the crowds from home and also playing with Rahm and Rafa, it has been two fantastic days.

“You’re always a little bit nervous but at the end it’s just going out there and playing your best golf, and hopefully we can have some good rounds – and on Sunday we’ll see how it turns out,” added Arnaus, who would love to go one better than his last appearance in Spain, when he finished secodn in the Andalucia Masters at Valderamma, at the end of June.

Cabrera-Bello and Arnaus are one stroke ahead of journeyman Samuel Del Val who, in a bid to earn playing rights around the world, has spent the last four months on the road.

Del Val said: “It was a great round. I felt like I controlled both rounds really well, didn’t make many mistakes, only two bogeys.

“I had the putter going both days, made a couple of good ones and I’m in a good position going into the weekend.

“This is my 20^th week of the last 23. I’ve been away from home for four months. I live in the States in Atlanta,” said the 32-year-old.

“I’ve been playing PGA Tour China, had some invites on the Challenge Tour too,” added De Val, who is ranked 1,413 in the world.

“After losing my card on the Web.com Tour last year, I decided to try and have both ways to get back to where I think I should be playing.”

In fourth place is defending champion Jon Rahm, who recovered from a double bogey on the second hole to card a four-under 67.

The three-time Rolex Series winner sits two strokes behind Cabrera-Bello and Arnaus.

Rahm said: “I was lucky to only be two over through two, I saved a heck of a par on that first hole.

“It was a little shaky, but things like that happen. I was battling bad swings two days ago, yesterday was great, today I was trying to find the same feeling but I figured it out after that double bogey.

“My body is feeling good and I’m hoping to start well tomorrow, give an early scare to these guys and get the lead,” added the former World Amateur No. 1, who played his college golf in the States at Arizona State – the same university as Phil Mickleson and Paul Casey.

“I keep forgetting (I’m defending champion). I’m so focused on what I have to do, I’m focused on beating Adri and Rafa.

“One more day tomorrow to get in position. Hopefully I can play a little bit better, get off to a good start and keep it going for 18 holes,” said Rahm.

Rahm birdied the 18^th in front of thousands who came out in force to see the trio, who were grouped together for the first two rounds. The group are a combined 31-under heading into the weekend.

South African Zander Lombard is fifth on eight-under, one ahead of Finland’s Mikko Korhonen, Australias Jason Scrivener and Germany’s Marcel Siem.

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Rookie Adri Arnaus led a group of five Spaniards at the top end of the leaderboard in the Spanish Open. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

ADRI Arnaus leads the home charge at the Mutuactivos Open de España, but sits two strokes behind Norway’s Kristian Krogh-Johannessen, who carded an eight under par 63 to lead at Club de Campo Villa de Madrid.

Johannessen, who started the day on the 10th tee, made the turn in four-under after three birdies and an eagle, dropping his only shot of the day at the par four 16^th hole.

The Norwegian, who seems to have been inspired by fellow countryman Viktor Hovland’s start to his PGA Tour career in the States, made four more gains on the front nine.

That included a birdie at the ninth as he posted eight-under, which was not beaten by the afternoon starters.

Krogh-Johannessen: “I’m out there having fun and playing smart. It’s a tricky course, but I’ve got a friend on the bag this week and we’re having fun out there.

“It was a good round. I didn’t hit it perfectly, but hit it in the right spots, even when I missed and I holed some good putts.

The 24-year-old, who turned pro in 2015, added: “I just need to keep calm, play my own game and not get stressed out there.

“It’s a bit tricky, so if you get stressed you start easily making mistakes. I just need to keep cool and play my own game.”

Arnaus is one of five home hopefuls inside the top 10 in the Spanish capital, carding a six-under 65 to take solo second.

He made the turn in six-under after four birdies and an eagle on his front nine, and finished his round with a birdie on the ninth to cancel out a bogey on the fourth.

Arnaus said: “It was such a fun round out there with the crowds following. I was really happy with how I played out there, especially the front nine – that was a lot of fun. I was happy to finish with a birdie on the ninth.

“I was six under through nine and finished birdie-birdie-birdie on my last holes on my front nine.

“That was amazing. I kept it going, but some of my putts on my back nine didn’t want to drop, but it finally dropped on the last, so I was really happy.”

The 24-year-old, who graduated from the European Challenge Tour last season, is making just his second appearance in his national Open.

Arnaus has enjoyed a fine rookie year on the European Tour, with three runner-up finishes in 2019 as he seeks his maiden victory – winning his natioanal Open in Madrid would cap a dream start to the rookie’s career.

Defending champion and World No. 5 Jon Rahm shares third place with compatriot Rafa Cabrera-Bello and four other golfers on five-under.

Rahm, who knew last year’s host course extremely well from his high school days, said: “It’s a tough golf course, you need to drive it well – and I did.

“The greens were perfect, they are the best greens I’ve putted on in Spain in my career as an amateur and as a pro.

“Me, Rafa and Adri played really well, especially on that front nine Adri got it going really well and me and Rafa were trying to catch up.

“My biggest challenge early on, and the reason I missed so many putts, is because I was trying to get the pace of the greens. They were so fast.

“I was getting used to the speed and the changes from last week to this week. Yesterday I did struggle with ball-striking, but I fixed it and stayed committed to the changes I made.”

“We all got it going and once we made the turn, everyone was there. Every time you’re hitting shots, even if you’re missing, you’re getting a lot of words of encouragement.”

Cabrera-Bello was also pleased with his start, saying: “I’m very pleased. It was a bogey free round, but it didn’t feel like it.

“There were a few occasions where I got into trouble and managed to save myself. I controlled my game the entire day, gave myself some chances and putted well. It was a good day and I knew I could post a good score.”

A further shot back is Spanish pair Samuel Del Val and Adrian Otaegui, who carded four-under 67s, sharing ninth with seven others.

•For live scores in round two click here.

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Spanish Open winner Jon Rahm wants to break Seve Ballesteros’ record as the youngest player to win five times on the European Tour. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

JON Rahm feels calm ahead of his Mutuactivos Open de España title defence, believing the burden of pressure is no longer there after winning his national Open at the first attempt last year.

The 24-year-old arrives at Club de Campo Villa de Madrid in strong form, having recorded seven top-ten finishes in his last 10 events, including a runner-up result at the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth just two weeks ago.

After securing his fourth European Tour title at the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open in July, his third Rolex Series victory, the World No. 5 now has his sights set on reaching the milestone of five victories faster than the late, great Seve Ballesteros.

Rahm said: “I hope I can get to five before Seve did. I would love to do that. Those records are always nice. That’s something I have in mind when I’m playing.

“There are some weeks when I really want to win – I’d love to be a multiple winner of the Open de España and I’d love this to be the first time I successfully defend a title. So, I hope that happens.

“There won’t be more pressure than last year. It was the first time I had played the event – I was fourth in the world and I had just played well at Augusta.

“It was a golf course I played in high school. This time I don’t know the golf course.

“I am defending champion and the highest-ranked player, but the fact it’s a golf course I’ve not played much is a big difference. Hopefully I can just focus on playing good golf and be in the mix on Sunday.

“I wish I would have been able to enjoy last year’s win a little more. When I went down 18, I didn’t know Nacho Elvira had hit it in the water and made a double.

“I wished I’d have known that because that would have made a big difference with how I approached it.

“There was a chance of him holing out with his second shot – but I would have enjoyed it a little more. It was still a great week.

“Walking down to that green was a great feeling – 50,000 fans showed up to an event that was planned and advertised late.

“I was really proud of my country and proud of myself to be able to come and win. It’s a huge honour to represent Spain and Spanish golf.

“We all try and follow Seve’s steps and to win that event was unique and very special.”

Ballesteros won his fifth title at the 1978 Martini International in what was his 49th start, while Rahm is making his 39^th European Tour appearance this week.

Rahm is one of 32 Spanish golfers teeing it up on home soil this week, including Ryder Cup stalwarts Sergio Garcio, Miguel Angel Jiménez and José María Olazábal.

He will begin the tournament in the company of three-time European Tour winner and 2016 Ryder Cup player Rafa Cabrera Bello and rising star Adri Arnaus, who is currently 34^th on the Race to Dubai Rankings in his rookie season after graduating from the European Challenge Tour last year.

Arnaus, who has two runner-up finishes in his first season on the European Tour, said: “Everyone is wishing all the Spanish players to have a great week, there’s a lot of people I know from growing up who I’m meeting here.

“It’s one where every Spaniard wants to win the trophy, so it makes it that more special.

“You always get butterflies when you’re on the first tee, especially at the thought of playing with Jon and Rafa in front of all of those people who will be following us.

“But I’m used to that now; hopefully I can go out there and enjoy the experience. I see it as a privilege,” added Arnaus, who finished second in the Andalucia Masters, hosted by Sergio Garcia, at Valderrama in June.

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Sergio Garcia would love to win the Spanish Open in front of his home fans in Madrid after victory in his last start at the KLM Open, in Amsterdam. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

SERGIO Garcia hopes to bring his title-winning form from the KLM Open to this week’s Mutuactivos Open de España as he prepares to tee it up in his national Open for the first time since 2016.

The 39-year-old is also making his first appearance since returning to the winner’s circle last month at Holland’s KLM Open, securing his 16^th European Tour title and his fifth victory in a two-and-a-half year span.

Garcia, the winner of the 2002 Open de España, hopes to channel happy memories both from this tournament and playing in his home country, where he has won seven times in his 20-year professional career.

Garcia said: “It’s good to be a part of this event again – 2016 was the last time I played, at Valderrama.

“It’s a tournament I’ve won in the past, and I would love to renew that feeling here. It should be good fun here in Madrid.

“I did have a really nice week in Amsterdam a few weeks back. I’m excited to keep that momentum going. My game feels pretty good and hopefully we can have a great week.

“The course has changed a little bit with a few new tees, but the essence of the course is still the same.

“Small greens… you have to drive the ball well. If you miss fairways there are a lot of tricky shots. It looks really nice, at the end of the day it comes down to playing well and we’ll see how it turns out.”

Garcia is joined in the Spanish capital this week by Rafa Cabrera-Bello, who is searching for a first professional win on home soil.

Cabrera Bello, who made his Ryder Cup debut in Hazeltine three years ago, said: “I’m really looking forward to the Spanish Open this year, it’s always a pleasure to play in my home country.

“We feel the love and support from the crowds, promoters, organisers and everyone in the event.

“Of course we want to play our best and show off our best golf – sometimes that doesn’t happen, but it doesn’t matter,” added Cabrera-Bello, who played for Europe in the Junior Ryder Cup in 1999.

“If they see us trying our hardest they appreciate that, it’s the mentality we come with. We want to win and will give it our best shot, but it’s not always in our hands.

“I’ve played this tournament a lot and only had two top 10s, it hasn’t been my best event.

“But that can change in a week. I feel more mature now and can deal with pressure or expectation much better these days.

“Hopefully this year, with the way my game is at the moment, I can put on a good performance.”

The three-time European Tour winner’s most recent victory came at the 2017 Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open, when he beat Callum Shinkwin in a play-off.

Cabrera-Bello made his first appearance in this event as an amateur the same year that Garcia triumphed, finishing in a share of fourth place, in the Canaries.

The Open de España returns to Club de Campo Villa de Madrid for the first time since 1996 when Padraig Harrington won his first European Tour event.

It is also the same venue where the late, great Seve Ballesteros won his 50^th and final title on the European Tour the year prior.

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