Azahara Muñoz has increased her glorious relationship with the Andalucía Costa del Sol Open de España, a repeat triumph, first in 2016 now in 2017, that makes her a unique golfer and endows the competition with the most inspiring story possible of any that could have been imagined prior to its inception.
Local hero, trained at the RCG Guadalmina, which has served as a wonderful venue for four days, the player from Malaga has chiseled a fabulous performance from the first day, a start, a development and a spectacular outcome that makes Azahara Muñoz the first player to reedit triumph in a row, following in the footsteps of the legendary Laura Davies, also with two titles to her credit (1986 and 2010) and Marie Laure de Lorenzi (1988 and 1994), who did so in alternate editions.
Beth Allen a year ago, the duo of Carlota Ciganda and England’s Georgia Hall on this occasion, the new two-time champion turned the final straight of the tournament into an authentic and exclusive mano a mano from which she emerged victorious thanks to a valuable mix of professionalism, efficiency and patience, an explosive cocktail that progressively ended the resistance of her main rivals, who were joined halfway through the round by Lee-Anne Pace in a desire to win that was also inconclusive despite the spirited final attack of the South African golfer.
Not in vain, Azahara Muñoz bravely cut off the successive proposals of each and every one of her opponents despite the fact that her first actions in the field were, like her teammates in the star match, hesitant.
With a three-stroke lead over England’s Georgia Hall -who stumbled on the first hole-, Azahara Muñoz and Carlota Ciganda, teammates, friends and rivals on so many occasions in their often parallel careers, established a wonderful duel based curiously on two mistakes managed in very different ways and which were the key to the outcome of the tournament.
A bogey on hole 3, committed with her second ball after losing the first from the tee, spurred Azahara Muñoz to unsuspected limits from that moment on, taking advantage with all its consequences of a couple of faulty shots by Carlota Ciganda on the next hole, penalized with a double bogey that ultimately proved decisive.
With renewed energies that were truly volcanic, Azahara Muñoz took advantage of the situation to make a deep and decisive move, three consecutive birdies between holes 5 and 7 that opened the first big gap in the standings, without Carlota Ciganda or Georgia Hall being able to find the winning channel in the framework of performances far from the confidence and comfort necessary to reach the 18th hole with real chances of victory.
It remained to finish the job, to inscribe the name of winner for the second time in history, and Azahara Muñoz worked on it with brilliant professionalism, nullifying the effect of the energetic final attack of Carlota Ciganda -birdie-eagle to finish- and South African Lee-Anne Pace, who came from behind, with a solid and effective game that sought to recall her triumph in this Open de España in 2013, rose to a well-deserved second place.
Slightly behind, in a fifth place that tastes like glory, Natalia Escuriola from Castellón rounded off a simply spectacular Spanish performance that underpinned the Balearic Luna Sobrón from twelfth place, a brilliant joint result in a round and unforgettable tournament thanks to the sensational performance of Azahara Muñoz that dignifies the history of the Open de España.
Azahara Muñoz (1st with 269 strokes, -19. Today, 69, -3. Birdies at 5, 6, 7, 14 and 17, bogeys at 3 and 12).
“I’ve had a tough year, my health hasn’t been great, although I’ve been feeling better for the last two or three years. Winning again here, in front of all the kids of the club who have been supporting me, and my family is something that cannot be described, to see my parents so happy….. It is something wonderful. It makes me even more excited to win for them. The people at the club have seen me grow up, so to win here is something incredible.
I played very well, without getting into trouble and hitting the ball very well. For sure it has been my best week of play all year, I’ve hit incredible. Always keeping three or four strokes ahead gave me a lot of confidence. I knew Lee-Anne Pace was going to give me a lot of fight, but I also knew that going my own way I had it in my hand. I only saw myself winning after I put the drive on the 18th into the fairway. Then I struggled a bit to finish it off, but I knew that a five was good enough for me.
I want to thank everyone who has supported me in my career. It’s for all of them. And I want to dedicate the win to Marcelo Prieto, it has been a blessing to have him here this week.”
Carlota Ciganda (2nd with 271 strokes, -17. Today, 71, -1. Eagle at 18, birdies at 14 and 17, bogey at 15, and double bogey at 4).
“I had a good end of round, and the week overall was positive: I finished with -17 and in second place. As my caddie tells me, if I haven’t won it’s because I’m not ready to win yet. Next year I hope to come back to try again to win this tournament that I like so much.
Azahara has played spectacular golf during the four days, she has hit the ball great. I am very happy for her because I know she has not had an easy year, with many changes. She deserves it.
Natalia Escuriola (5th with 275 strokes, -13 Today, 69, -3. Birdies at 6, 12, 16 and 18; bogey at 5).
“It’s been an incredible week. Today I didn’t play as, as well as in the previous rounds, but the philosophy has been the same. I stayed out of trouble, went about my business with my caddie, and when I had a birdie opportunity I took it.
The grade for the week is A. Or A+!”
FINAL RANKING
1.- Azahara Muñoz (Spain), 269 (69+64+67+69)
2.- Carlota Ciganda (Spain), 271 (66+67+67+71)
+Lee-Anne Pace (South Africa), 271 (66+68+70+67)
4.- Georgia Hall (England), 272 (65+67+71+69)
5.- Natalia Escuriola (Spain), 275 (65+73+68+69)
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