Padraig Harrington, winner of three Majors and recent vice-captain in the Ryder Cup, is the latest major addition to the staff of the Andalucía Valderrama Masters – Sergio García Foundation, a tournament supported by the Ministry of Tourism and Sport of the Andalusian Government and held from October 18 to 21 at the Real Club Valderrama, with a remarkable squad of international golfers.
The Irishman, who is seeking a place in the final tournaments of the Rolex Series that will serve to culminate the Race to Dubai 2018, arrives at the prestigious San Roque course after having signed three top ten finishes in his last five tournaments, and will try to maintain his good streak in a course where he has already excelled. The 1997 Ryder Cup venue has been flattering to the Dubliner, who finished second in the 1999 Volvo Masters and finished in the top five in the 2000 WGC-American Express Championship. Last year, Harrington finished in the top 30 as Sergio Garcia, host of the tournament and the Irishman’s illustrious rival in more than one Major battle, took the title in the Robert Trent Jones design.
In addition to having shone in Valderrama, Padraig Harrington is looking for a poker of victories in our country, as he previously won the 1996 Open de España, the 2000 Turespaña Masters Madrid and the 2001 Volvo Masters Andalucía in Montecastillo.
Padraig Harrington: “Valderrama is one of the best courses in Europe. It’s a great venue and a magnificent course. E I’m on the verge of getting into the places for the Turkish Airlines Open, so I need to pick up a few more points to play in Turkey. It’s a great opportunity on a course I’m familiar with and also a good chance to get some sunshine, so I’m looking forward to it.
In addition to meeting Thomas Bjørn, European captain at Le Golf National, Harrington will be joined at Valderrama by two other vice-captains from the last Ryder Cup: Lee Westwood, winner of 23 European Tour tournaments, and Robert Karlsson, European number one in 2008.
The Andalucia Valderrama Masters will also host three members of victorious Ryder Cup teams (Stephen Gallacher, Edoardo Molinari and Peter Hanson) and two golfers who have already triumphed at Real Club Valderrama: Andrew “Beef” Johnston (Open de España 2016), and Søren Kjeldsen (Volvo Masters 2008 Valderrama, Open de Andalucía 2009).
Harrington, Johnston and Kjeldsen are not the only golfers on the tournament’s roster who have won in Spanish tournaments: James Morrison achieved it at the Open de España 2015, Lee Slattery, at the Madrid Masters 2011; Peter Hanson won at the Open de España 2005 and the Iberdrola Open Cala Millor Mallorca 2010; Raphaël Jacquelin won at the Open de España 2013; Thomas Aiken, at the Open de España 2011; Lee Westwood won the Volvo Masters 1997 and the Open de Andalucia 2007; Robert Karlsson, in the Turespaña Open Mediterrania 1995 and the Open de España 2001; Matteo Manassero debuted his record, which boasts four titles, in the Castelló Masters 2010 and Grégory Bourdy triumphed in the Mallorca Classic 2007.
Other multiple winners on the European Tour present at the Andalucía Valderrama Masters include Thongchai Jaidee (seven titles), Brett Rumford (six wins), David Howell (five triumphs), Shane Lowry (three silverware, including the 2015 WGC Bridgestone), Jeunghun Wang (three wins), Marcus Fraser (three wins) and Darren Fichardt (three titles).
Finally, among the 2018 European Tour winners who will play at Real Club Valderrama are Paul Waring (Nordea Masters), Richard McEvoy (Porsche European Open), Joost Luiten (second behind Sergio Garcia at the 2017 Andalucia Valderrama Masters and with six victories, including this year’s NBO Oman Open) and Wade Ormsby (UBS Hong Kong Open).
To face the challenge of this forceful international squad, the first Spaniards are already on the course preparing for the tournament. Among the earliest to start their preparation are Álvaro Quirós, José Mari Olazábal, Pep Anglés and Samuel del Val, who have not wanted to entrust all their luck to the good knowledge they have of the Real Club Valderrama and want to start the week of the last European event of the circuit on the best possible footing.
Tickets for the Andalucia Valderrama Masters-Sergio Garcia Foundation available HERE. Admission is free for children under 14 years old when accompanied by an adult.
The Andalucía Valderrama Masters-Sergio García Foundation, tournament valid for the Race to Dubai, has the support of the Ministry of Tourism and Sport of the Junta de Andalucía, through the European Regional Development Fund of the European Union; the Diputación de Cádiz, the City Council of San Roque and the Royal Andalusian Golf Federation complete the institutional support. It also has the support of La Reserva de Sotogrande, Rolex, Heineken, Dubai Duty Free, Santander Private Banking, Shell, Exterior Plus and Samsic Iberia. Only Water, Grupo Hospitalario Quirónsalud, Coca-Cola, Varma and Korporate Technologies Group are official suppliers.
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