Search for a players profile
Rafa Bello Cabrera
Rafa Bello Cabrera
Born: 25 May 1984
Birthplace: Las Palmas, Gran Canaria, Spain
College: Unknown
Resides: Dubai
Major Wins: 0
Euro or PGA Tour Wins: 4
Other Wins: 2
Grass Preference: Unknown
Significant Life Events: Yes
GBC Wind Performance Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
GBC Pressure Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
BIO
Rafa Cabrera Bello is a four-time winner on the European Tour having won his most recent in late 2021 at the Open De Espana. He also has two Challenge Tour wins, the first of which was one year after turning professional in 2005.
RCB plays a mixture of the European Tour and the PGA Tour nowadays but really struggled in 2020 and large parts of 2021. He missed the cut 11 times in 2020 and 13 tiems in 2021, the highest number since 2010.
He particularly enjoys playing out in the Middle East, in particular Dubai. A very capable wind player and plays well on links style courses. He'll be hoping to use these tournaments to get off to a better start in 2022.
Significant info
Rafa and his wife welcomed a baby girl into the world in August 2019.
Rafa split from his long term caddie, Colin Byrne, after the 2020 Masters.
Pressure Performance Analysis
Summary
Rafa answered some critics in Spain in late 2021 but on the whole hasn't been great with a lead recently. His Golf Betting Club Pressure Performance Rating is set at ⭐⭐⭐.
September 2022
❌ Began the final round of the BMW PGA Championship 1 shot behind the leaders and shot 70 to finish 4 shots back of winner Shane Lowry.
July 2022
❌Trailed Xander by 2 shots at the Scottish Open and shot 77 to finish NINE back.
January 2022
✅ Began the final round of the Abu Dhabi Championship four shots behind Jamieson. Shot 70 to finish one shot shy but was a good effort.
October 2021
✅ Won the Open De Espana in a playoff with Adri Arnaus. He did start two shots ahead of him but Adri played well to close the gap.
January 2021
➖ Began the final round of the Abu Dhabi Championship 2 shots behind Rory McIlroy. Shot 69 to finish 6 shots behind Tyrrell Hatton who shot 66. An average performance.
January 2020
❌Trailed Francesco Laporta by 1 shot after 36 holes at the Abu Dhabi Championship and shot 71-70 over the weekend to finish 12th, 7 shots behind winner Lee Westwood
October 2019
❌Co-led with Adri Arnaus at the Open De Espana however Jon Rahm played the weekend in 7 shots better than Rafa to win by 5 shots.
July 2019
➖ Trailed Robert Rock by 1 shot after 54 holes of the Irish Open. Shot 69 to finish 3 shots behind Jon Rahm who shot a final round 62.
March 2019
➖ Led the Arnold Palmer Invitational by 2 shots after 18 holes following a 65. Shot 75-70-69 to finish 3rd, 3 shots behind winner Francesco Molinari.
September 2018
❌Finished 7th at the Dell Technologies Championship. Briefly took a share of the lead during the final round after seven birdies and a bogey on his first 11 holes, but dropped three shots over the last six holes to finish 5 shots behind Bryson Dechambeau.
July 2017
✅ Won the Scottish Open after a final round 64 got him into a playoff with Callum Shinkwin. Began final round 4 shots behind.
Trends
Unpredictable
Many of his big recent performances have followed a poor previous result. In 2019, 2nd at the Open De Espana followed a 61st, 6th at BMW PGA Championship followed a 63rd, 3rd at the BMW International Open followed a 65th place finish. His victory in Scotland followed a missed cut in 2017 also. The win in 2021 followed some terrible form. Rafa does not have to be in hot form to perform well.
Stays Hot
He can also hold form - in the summer of 2019 he had three Top 10's in as many weeks.
Wind Expert
Rafa is a proven wind player, he grew up playing in a breeze in the Canary Islands so it doesn't faze him.
Playoff Record
2-2.
Significant Quotes
2020 US Open
"It's (US Open) a tournament I do like. I tend to be a grinder, as well. I never give up. I keep fighting. I have played some great rounds in the U.S. Open, at Pebble Beach, at Shinnecock, as well."
2020 Abu Dhabi Championship
"I live in Dubai, so I don't feel alien at all. I've always said it, it reminds me a bit of the Canary Islands, playing in the sun and in the wind and seeing palm trees, that's how I grew up playing. So it brings back great memories. They are good courses, all of them, superb. It's always interesting conditions, and it's always nice to start the year here, start fresh, and try to play some good golf."
