The NH Collection Open is warming up its engines to start tomorrow in a big way. The activity is intense at La Reserva de Sotogrande where the training sessions continue. Fifteen Spanish players aspire to win a title that can give a 180-degree turn to the season. The winner will be assured the card in the European Tour for a year.
The fifteen Spaniards are: Alejandro Cañizares, Eduardo de la Riva, Jorge Campillo, Adrian Otaegui, Nacho Elvira, Carlos del Moral, José Manuel Lara, Jesús Legarrea, Carlos Aguilar, Álvaro Velasco, Jordi García del Moral, Jordi García Pinto, Agustín Domingo, Pedro Oriol y Santi Luna.
Among the players who can get into the European Tour through the direct route is Pedro OriolHe is currently number one on the Challenge Tour thanks to the second place achieved in the only tournament of this circuit that has been held this year, the Kenya Open. “I’m very happy, it was a shame not to win but it’s a great start. The important thing is that I’m playing well and I’m coming into the tournament with a lot of confidence. I played 9 holes today, the course is great with fast greens and that’s because the wind will be blowing this week.”
His partner Nacho Elvira has just landed in the European Tour where he makes his debut thanks to his great performance in the Challenge last year. With a victory in Sotogrande he would secure his place among the best. “I have adapted very well to the European Tour, I only notice a difference in how they prepare the courses, but I am very happy, I have played 10 tournaments and I have passed five cuts. I’m playing pretty well and it would be great to be at the top in this tournament.”
Another player who arrives with good feelings to La Reserva de Sotogrande is Eduardo de la Riva who plays his second season in the circuit. “It had been many years since I played here and the course and is in very good condition. I was not playing well, I have made small changes and now I start to have more confidence and feel better on the course”.
Carlos del MoralThe winner of the European Tour Qualifying School, is also in a great moment of play, a month ago he achieved a fourth place in the Tshwane Open. “It gives a lot of peace of mind to start the season knowing that you have the full card and can play all the tournaments; that shows in the game. A few months ago I made the decision to go to live in Marbella where there are many courses to train and good connections to travel, in addition, I am closer to my coach José Carlos Gutiérrez. I think it was a good decision, I’m happy. I have been able to come a couple of days to train at La Reserva and it is in very good conditions, I like it a lot and it suits me”.
Among the favorites for Sunday is undoubtedly Alejandro CañizaresHe is playing at home and knows the course perfectly and how the wind that promises to blow from Thursday will affect him. “I have gained a lot of confidence in Morocco, but my goal is still to be at one hundred percent, physically and mentally, in every shot I take.”
Yesterday took place in La Reserva de Sotogrande the presentation of the NH Collection Open attended by the mayor of San Roque, Juan Carlos Ruiz Boix, Juan Carlos Ruiz Boix. Mayor of San Roque, Juan Carlos Ruiz Boixand the president of La Reserva de Sotogrande, Jose Maria Lopez-Elolaand the general manager of Sotogrande SA, Ramón Luengo; La Reserva’s director of La Reserva, Juan Álvarez; José María Zamora, tournament directorand the golfer Alejandro Cañizares.
Ramón Luengo, general manager of Sotogrande S.A.: “The NH Collection Open is very important to boost tourism in this area and to show all the possibilities that Sotogrande offers.The NH Collection Open is very important to boost tourism in this area and to show all the possibilities that Sotogrande offers. The agreement we have with the European Tour is for one year but we do not close the door to the tournament having continuity”.
José María Zamora, on behalf of the European Tour, thanked NH Hotel Group and Sotogrande S.A. for the enormous effort they have made to organize the tournament in just two months, a record. “Everyone has gone all out and we are very grateful to return to Sotogrande, a very special place for the European Tour. We must especially highlight the magnificent conditions of the course, with very fast greens. The players are going to have a great time this week”.
The tournament has the main sponsorship of NH Hotel Group y Sotogrande S.A., and the collaboration of Solán de Cabras, Primor, Infiniti, Kyocera and Titleist.
Photo: Cañizares, Luengo, Ruiz Boix, López-Elola, Zamora and Álvarez (Photo by Michael Denker).
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