Tournament co-host Sergio García’s US Masters victory at Augusta and confirmation that Jon Rahm will compete in the Andalucía Valderrama Masters have represented excellent news for Royal Valderrama Club.
“Sergio’s win has been extraordinary and a matter of great pride for us, the same as Rahm playing at Valderrama in his first tournament in Spain as a professional,” says general manager Javier Reviriego. “I believe his presence – obviously together with Sergio’s – will have a major impact on the tournament, as he will probably be already top-10 by the time this event is held.” (Just days after his comments, Rahm rose to ninth in the world ranking after finishing second in the Dean & Deluca on the US PGA Tour.)
This means that at least two of the top-10 players in the world will be competing in the Andalucía Valderrama Masters. “At least two,” notes Reviriego, “and there will be other top-class names we will be able to confirm as the date draws closer.”
As for the tournament venue, he says, “We have been meeting with European Tour agronomists and we have now started to prepare the course”, which will feature “some changes in respect of the set-up last year” (when Andrew “Beef” Johnston won the Spanish Open).
Another novelty will be the installation – the same as during the Ryder Cup, World Golf Championships and Volvo Masters – of a hospitality marquee behind the green of the iconic 17th hole. In addition there will be a leisure village with a catering area for the public, on this occasion extending over a larger area than in 2016.
The club has great expectations of major spectator numbers at Valderrama, bearing in mind both the high level of players and the tournament dates. “I believe,” says Reviriego, “that there will be more people than during the Spanish Open, certainly.”
To help fans remain up to date about everything related to the Andalucía Valderrama Masters, a special website has been launched where tickets for the tournament can also be purchased. These advance-sale tickets are available for reduced prices compared with those sold at the course during the tournament.
