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“The tournament could continue at Finca Cortesín for many, many years” 
Volvo Event Management president Per Ericsson was enormously satisfied with the latest edition of the Volvo World Match Play Championship – both the tournament venue and the exceptional field it attracted.

–What is your general feeling about the tournament?

–Well today, the day after the tournament, it’s a very good feeling. Of the three professional tournaments we have held this year, this is by far the most prestigious one. It’s much easier to do a tournament the second year in the same venue and I think we learned a lot from the first year and I think we got everything more or less right this time. We were lucky at the start to have this kind of field, because that obviously helps, and we got a very good winner in the end, so I’m happy.

–Were there more spectators this year than in 2009?

–About the same as last year – about 20,000. This is not official yet but up to Saturday it was similar to the previous edition.

–Is that acceptable for an event like this?

–Well, to be honest the number of spectators is not so important for Volvo. It’s important for it to be an attractive tournament for TV because it’s mainly for TV. Spain is not an important market for Volvo, unfortunately; it’s not a good market right now. The reason we are here is because we have the best golf course and the best facilities around it, so it’s more for TV.

–This has been, without a doubt, the best field ever for a golf tournament in Spain but, even though that’s the case, do you feel that any players were missing?

–The field was not only the best ever in Spain but the best ever in Europe, outside the UK – by far. The only way we can perhaps do this a little better is to have one or two of the best Americans coming to play, but that’s probably the only way we can improve it.

–This tournament is becoming very popular and on the way to being considered a classic. How long do you believe it will remain at Finca Cortesín?

–The last time we held a top tournament in this area was the Volvo Masters and we did that for 21 years. When Volvo is into something we are long term. I see no reason why we can’t do this for many, many years.

–Would you have liked the Junta de Andalucía (regional government), and its tourism ministry, to have supported the tournament?

–This is a tricky question. Obviously I think it’s very strange that they don’t. At first I think it was a bit difficult for people down here to understand the difference between the Volvo Masters and the Volvo Match Play. I think it took a while for people to understand that this tournament, in terms of quality, is of a higher quality. This year I think everyone down here understood, and I think that is the reason why Turismo Andaluz, or the Junta de Andalucía, should understand that, of course, when this kind of tournament becomes this popular there are other places in the world that would like to host it. And I think it’s a little bit strange that (the Junta) does not really try to keep this tournament in the region, because they haven’t. But it’s their choice.

 

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