A spectacular line-up of international champions will fight this week in Sotogrande to win the Andalucía Valderrama Masters held thanks to the sponsorship of the Ministry of Tourism and Sport of the Junta de Andalucía and the support of Heineken, Solán de Cabras, Rolex, La Reserva de Sotogrande, Osborne and Volvo. From Thursday, Sergio Garcia will defend the title against a large group of rivals among which are players who have made history in the European circuit and young people who will give much to talk about in the coming years.
Up to five major winners will be at the Real Club Valderrama. Along with Spaniards Sergio Garcia (Augusta Masters 2017) and Jose Maria Olazabal (Augusta Masters 1994 and 1999), we will be able to see Padraig Harrington (British Open 2007 and 2008, US PGA Championship 2008), Danny Willet (Augusta Masters 2016) and Martin Kaymer (US PGA CHampionship 2010 and US Open 2014).
Valderrama also welcomes several players who already have a victory this season, such as the English Matt Wallace, winner of the Portuguese Open, the Italians Edoardo Molinari (Trophee Hasan II) and Renato Paratore (Nordea Masters); the American Julian Suri (Made in Denmark); the French Romain Wattel (KLM Open Holland) or the Argentine Andres Romero (BMW International Open).
The Swede Robert Karlsson is another of the big names that the Andalucía Valderrama Masters-Sergio García Foundation has brought together. He was number one in Europe in 2008 and has eleven titles on the circuit, this season he achieved a third place in the British Masters just two weeks ago. Karlsson heads the Swedish representation that includes other big names such as Peter Hanson, Niclas Fasth or Johan Edfords.
Among the Englishmen, it will be necessary to closely follow Andrew Johnston, winner of the Spanish Open last year at this same venue in very tough conditions; Matt Wallace, who arrives at Valderrama after a sensational week in Italy where he finished fourth, or winners of the circuit such as James Morrison, Andy Sullivan, Lee Slattery or Robert Rock.
The Dane Søren Kjeldsen usually enjoys Valderrama, a course where he has achieved good results. He won the 2008 Volvo Masters, was tied second in the 2010 Andalucía Valderrama Masters and tied fourth in the Open de España last year. Two of his four tour titles have been won in Andalucía, the Volvo Masters and the 2009 Andalucía Open.
The Irish Shane Lowry, winner of the WGC – Bridgestone Invitational 2015; the Italian Mateo Manassero; the Dutch Joost Luiten, second classified last year at the Open de España; the Welsh Bradley Dredge and Jamie Donaldson or the French Raphaël Jacquelin and Grègory Bourdy, will delight the large audience that will surely come to Valderrama to enjoy the best European golf.
Seventeen Spaniards will take part in the Andalucía Valderrama Masters-Sergio García Foundation: José Mari Olazábal, Sergio García, Jon Rahm, Pablo Larrazábal, Adrián Otaegui, Álvaro Quirós, Carlos Pigem, Gonzalo Fernández-Castaño, Samuel del Val, Marcos Pastor, Alejandro Cañizares, Jorge Campillo, Nacho Elvira, Eduardo de la Riva, Pep Anglés, Álvaro Velasco and Jordi García Pinto.
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