Six European Tour events are scheduled for Spain this year, and the season is launched tomorrow with the Estrella Damm Mediterranean Ladies Open at Terramar Golf Club in Sitges (just south of Barcelona).
The event is one of two Ladies European Tour events in Spain this year, preceding the Andalucía Costa del Sol Open de España Femenino at Guadalmina (Marbella) from 21 to 24 September.
Only one men’s European Tour event is scheduled for Spain in 2017: the Andalucía Valderrama Masters (hosted by the Sergio Garcia Foundation) from 19 to 22 October. The European Challenge Tour will also visit the Costa del Sol from 18 to 21 May with the new-format Andalucía Costa del Sol Matchplay 9; while the annual Challenge de España will be held from 28 September to 1 October at a venue still to be confirmed.
Finally, the Ladies European Tour’s satellite Access Series travels to Spain this summer, with the Ribeira Sacra Patrimonio de la Humanidad International Ladies Open at Augas Santas Balneario & Golf Resort from 12 to 14 July. The Galician course has been hosting an LETAS event since 2013, when Spain’s Mireia Prat won her first title as a professional in the then Ocho Golf Ladies Open.
Returning to the LET… Carlota Ciganda, Azahara Muñoz, Anna Nordqvist, Karine Icher, Melissa Reid, Gwladys Nocera and this year’s European Solheim Cup team captain Annika Sorenstam are among those at Terramar this week for the inaugural Estrella Damm Mediterranean Open – although the latter not in a playing capacity as she is now retired from competition.
“It’s great to be here,” said Sorenstam. “I haven’t been to Spain since my amateur career, so to be part of this tournament in its first year with Marta (Figueras-Dotti), one of my vice-captains, who is effectively the hostess, is great. This is my first LET tournament to come and scout some of the talent out here. We are getting closer to the Solheim Cup, with four months left, so I’m keeping an eye on the players and catching up. There are lots of reasons to be here and I’m really excited. It’s a beautiful place, to be here, looking over the Mediterranean Sea. It’s great for the LET to be here and we are expecting some big crowds. Hopefully we’ll stay here for many years to come.”
Added Figueras-Dotti, who is the official event ambassador, “This tournament is very special because we worked very hard to make it happen and it is linked to my family and it means a lot to me than I can support women’s golf at a national level. The best women golfers are here and it’s a great opportunity to come out and watch them play. There are a lot of activities going on, it’s going to be a lot of fun and you have the best beer in the world!
Nordqvist is the leading European at number 10 on the Rolex women’s world golf rankings, following her recent win at the Bank of Hope Founders Cup in the US, although world number 21 Ciganda will also start among the favourites, having won twice in 2016. “It’s always nice to be here with all the Spanish people,” said Ciganda. “My parents are coming tonight and lots of friends and family are coming on the weekend. It’s always nice to play here with the home crowd. It’s my first time at the course and it’s in really good shape. Alicia and Inigo, the promoters (from Deporte and Business), they always do a great job with these tournaments. I’m happy to be here and playing this week.
“I’m just going to try and have some fun out there and play my best game. I would love to win here in Spain but I’m not going to go crazy thinking about it. I have played the course and I think it’s pretty simple from tee to green. I think I am going to make lots of birdies, so I’m hoping to shoot some low scores and see what happens on the weekend.”
