Canarian Rafa Cabrera-Bello will be the only Spanish representative in the semifinals of the Volvo World Match Play Championship that ends tomorrow at Finca Cortesin. The Canarian defeated Alvaro Quiros 3&1 in a difficult match, while Sergio Garcia lost in the playoff against Graeme McDowell, the hero of the last Ryder Cup and champion of the 2010 US Open. The Northern Irishman will be Cabrera-Bello’s opponent tomorrow. Rafa has shown that he wins when things go right, but also when things go wrong and he has to row against the tide. So far he had achieved two comfortable victories against Martin Kaymer and Richard Finch, but today he had to fight very hard to get through the eighth and quarter matches, in which he came from two holes behind against Robert Karlsson and three against Álvaro Quirós to win.
It was not long before there was a Spanish semifinal, as Sergio Garcia played a playoff hole against Graeme McDowell after the latter reached the 18th with 1 up and made a bogey.
The most convincing victory of the day was that of Paul Lawrie, who defeated Retief Goosen 6&5. The Scotsman is showing a very effective game thanks to which he has not lost any match this week, -he has won all but one-.
Lawrie received a tribute on Tuesday because he is playing in Finca Cortesin his 500th tournament on the European Tour, a mark that only 22 players have achieved. Winner of the 1999 British Open, he has between his eyebrows to get into the Ryder Cup team, as he has only been able to play the 99 edition and considers that not having qualified again is the biggest thorn in his career. He is also convinced that “José María Olazábal will be a magnificent captain”.
The fourth semifinalist is Nicolas Colsaerts, who last year fell precisely in the penultimate stage. He started doubtful in the first stage of the tournament, in which he did not win any match, but today he has stood out defeating Justin Rose 4&3 and Brandt Snedeker 4&3.
Rafa Cabrera-Bello wins 3&1 to Álvaro Quirós: “Today I had to come back from two matches, I left my homework for the second round. It has been a hard day of struggle and I am very satisfied because with Karlsson I was 2 down in five holes and with Alvaro 3 down in seven. I think with 1 or 2 under you are still in the match. I proved it at the Accenture -I was 3 up with three to play and I lost- and now I have experienced it in a positive way.
I really enjoy competing. I’ve been repeating to myself all the time, “it’s great to be here,” and that has helped me focus. My goal this week was to get into the US Open and that has been achieved, so I have nothing to lose.
Went to the 17th and 18th yesterday to see how the wind change affected. I wanted to get the uncertainty out of the way since I hadn’t made it to those holes in the previous matches. Today I made good use of that.
In the afternoon I started a bit out of rhythm, I only had 25 minutes between games. I hit a bad drive on the 1st and a lousy shot on the 2nd, which put Alvaro two up. That’s giving him a big advantage, so I told myself that I had to take out my pick and shovel.
On hole 7 I hit a very risky shot that I would never have hit in Medal. It didn’t work out and I was 3 under, but it was within the realm of possibility, so I didn’t get upset. When you take a risk you have to bear in mind the consequences.
Alvaro missed two putts on the 10th and 12th that were not easy, but they were a gift. My feeling is that I only had to come back one hole. Robert, on the other hand, didn’t open the door for me at any time.
Tonight I will reward myself by dining at Schilo (the renowned chef at Hotel Finca Cortesín). I’ve heard wonderful things about him.
Graeme McDowell beats Sergio Garcia on first playoff hole
“We didn’t play a quality match but rather a war of survival, we have been passing the match to each other. We didn’t make many birdies, and we didn’t hit any of us badly, but the course was complicated.
I have never played against Rafa, I know he is playing well because he won in Dubai, he hits hard and he is a quality player… so I will have to face another home favorite. I’ve always thought that in this format the name on paper says very little. All these players are winners and very capable of making 64, so what I have to do is take care of controlling my own ball.”
Paul Lawrie beats Retief Goosen 6&5
“I started the week with swing problems and I’m concentrating on rhythm. Those bad days you have to hit it however you can and lean on the short game. At this level, golf is about winning comfortably when you have a good day and surviving when you have a bad day.
As for the Ryder Cup team, I’m not in it by a long shot, even if I won this week. I have to earn my place by playing well. It’s still very early, there are many tournaments left and there are several players who could have a good run and pass me. But it’s clear that if I do well tomorrow it will be a good step forward.
I played with Olazábal the first two days in Seville and I couldn’t have done worse. We have played together many times and I always enjoy playing with him, he is one of the best green shooters.
One of the great disappointments of my career is having played only one Ryder, that’s why I’m so excited to go this year, especially with Olazábal…I think he’s going to be a great captain.”
Nicolas Colsaerts: “I started making birdies very quickly and I was 4 up, but then I made some mistakes, giving Snedeker opportunities that he took advantage of. There was a very tense moment, but that’s where he made the mistakes and I put the direct.”
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