The president of Real Club Valderrama, Nuno Alberto de Brito e Cunha, is well aware that in these special times we live in due to the pandemic, it is necessary that everyone collaborates to recover as much as possible a situation of normality. That is why the prestigious golf club he presides over has lent its full cooperation to the European Tour to host the Estrella Damm N.A. Andalucía Masters in September.
-Finally, the Estrella Damm N.A. Andalucía Masters will be held at Valderrama in September and it is possible that it will be held without an audience or with a limited number of spectators. Do you think it is better that the tournament is finally held, even under these circumstances?
-I think so. It is important that we make an effort to get our lives back to normal as quickly as possible: it is very important for our economies and therefore for everyone’s future.
-The European Tour has decidedly opted not to skip this edition of the tournament. Was the Junta de Andalucía also in favor of it?
-The Andalusian economy depends heavily on international tourism and therefore the Junta recognizes the great importance of a televised sporting event for the whole world.
-Do you think the international situation will allow the level of players to be similar to previous years?
-It is natural that the quality of the field will suffer because of the players’ travel difficulties and the fact that the US Open will be played two weeks later. Many of the best players are already in the United States and will not travel to Europe before the US Open.
-Will the prize purse be maintained despite the circumstances or will it be adapted to them?
-It is an exceptional year and all the prize purses of the European Tour tournaments are suffering: we have to adapt to the circumstances.
-If the tournament were to be played without an audience or with a limited number of spectators, would the essence of the tournament change much?
-The public brings atmosphere to a tournament, so something will lose the tournament in this sense. However, watching PGA Tour tournaments I have noticed that it loses less on TV, that the good play continues. I don’t think that Jon Rham’s big win at Muirfield Village has lost prestige or drama due to lack of audience.
-Do you still have the idea and interest in the Estrella Damm N.A. Andalucía Masters becoming a Rolex Series tournament?
-The effort to be part of the Rolex Series continues. We are convinced we can do it and, if the situation normalizes quickly, we will reach our goal in a couple of years, maybe sooner.
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