Keep this name: Laura Gómez Ruiz. We may be looking at a future star of professional golf. She is doing the Americas (for the moment only as a student) and a few weeks ago, when she returned home for vacation, she won the International Championship of Andalusia and the Championship of Andalusia Under 21.
This Swedish-faced Malaga native was born 19 years ago in San Pedro Alcántara (in the municipality of Marbella). She was baptized in golf at the San Pedro municipal club, which has a driving range, and at the age of 10 she started playing at the Real Club de Golf Guadalmina.
She studies at James Madison University in Virginia on a golf scholarship, and has finished her first year of International Business (“like Economics here,” she says).
She is enthusiastic about her American experience, where her golfing results have been very good.
I have played all the tournaments with the college team and it has been a very good experience. I ended up being the best on the team, I have been given several awards, from the conference we play, I am among one of the best, and I am also among one of the best in the state of Virginia.
-Do you see yourself with a promising future in the world of golf?
-I hope so. When I finish college, I’d like to come back here and play on the Spanish Tour.
Her father, Castor, says that his daughter’s real goals are the European Tour and, if she reaches a sufficient level, the American Tour. Apart from Laura’s teacher, Castor is the director of the golf schools of the RCG Guadalmina and the Club de Golf San Pedro Alcántara, as well as head coach of the RFGA responsible for the teams from 12 to 21 years old.
-How have you seen the competition in your first year in the United States?
-Very good, there is a high level, to be honest. I would like to go as far as possible. Where I play, there are girls up to 21 years old, so I still have a few years to evolve, so I hope to improve.
-Are South Korean women golfers as ‘dangerous’ as they say?
-Yes, there are a few South Koreans there and the truth is that the Americans are afraid of them.
-Have you learned anything from the golf teaching system at your university?
-I have a coach there, but he doesn’t teach me much. Here I already have my professional, who is my father, and he is the one who corrects me and does everything. When my coach wants to change something, he always consults my father. They don’t like to touch the swing too much: if you feel comfortable, they don’t make you change it.
-So you haven’t benefited much from the American system so far either?
-Not in technique, but in the way we train. We have to do exercise, gym, training, go out on the field… and no matter the temperature or the conditions, you go out on the field to play.
-With such a comprehensive plan, do you have time to study?
-Yes, at night.
-How much time do you dedicate to golf on a daily basis?
-Four hours almost every day of the week. We get one or two days a week off, depending on the season.
-Do you know Carlota Ziganda, Azahara Muñoz…?
-Yes, I have more dealings with Azahara and I have even played and trained with her.
-Azahara also trained in Guadalmina, as did Noemí Jiménez and other outstanding players. Why do you think San Pedro Alcántara produces such good golfers?
-I don’t know, I think it might be the good weather and the amount of golf courses we have around here.
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