Sergio Garcia will undoubtedly be the protagonist at the Real Club Valderrama during the LIV Golf Andalucia, which takes place between Friday and Sunday. And he will be so because the player from Castellón is the only one of the 48 players in the competition who knows the course like nobody else and who has won, and more than once, in the prestigious venue of the historic Ryder Cup in 1997.
Together with his Fireballs GC teammates -Eugenio López-Chacarra, Carlos Ortiz and Abraham Ancer- he talks about this very important appointment of the best golf in the world at Valderrama.
QUESTION: How does it feel to be playing in your home country and actually hosting this event?
SERGIO GARCIA: It feels amazing to be here in Spain, in Valderrama and Andalucia. It’s an incredible golf course. It’s in such great shape. It always is. Great weather. Today the course was definitely a little bit trickier with that wind. It’s in incredible shape, and we’re all very excited to get started.
Q.: Eugenio, tell us about your experience playing in Spain.
EUGENIO LÓPEZ-CHACARRA: It’s amazing to be back home, to be where I grew up in Spain and was lucky enough to come here many summers. So I’m used to the weather, used to the places, and I know Valderrama quite well. Today with the Poniente wind it’s a little bit different. It was fun to see the course this way and we had a lot of fun.
Q.: Abe and Carlos is the first time you play Valderrama. Tell us about your experience, what did you think of it?
ABRAHAM ANCER: Sergio told me a lot about it. Friends who played here before spoke very highly of this course, and now I see why. They told me I was going to love it.
I like this kind of golf. I like courses where you have to be very precise, not necessarily just a hitter, but also know exactly where you have to place the ball. I like that kind of golf, and this course has it all. It’s amazing. I’m happy to be here. I’m a big fan of the food and the culture. This country is amazing, so I can’t wait to get started.
CARLOS ORTIZ: I love this place, I was last summer here, 10, 15 days, also with Eugenio, and since I played last time, it’s crazy to see how it’s probably still in better, better shape than when I played it last year and there was nobody there and they have it exactly the same. This place, amazing, the food is great. I want to come and live here.
Q.: We’re at the halfway point of the season, so the league is really heating up for individual and team competition. Do you feel a little more pressure going into each tournament now that you know there are only seven tournaments left to play?
S.G.: Yeah, I guess a little bit. But we know what we have to do at the end of the day, and it’s just a matter of going out and playing well, believing in yourself, and hopefully we’ll all have a great end to the season, both individually and as a team, so we’re excited about that.
C.O.: You said it well. I believe in you too, Sergio.
P.: Abe, anything to add?
A.A.: Definitely. I feel like I’ve let my team down a little bit. I haven’t played my best this season, but I’m doing all the right things. I’m working hard. I know things will work out better for me. I tend to play better towards the middle of the year, so hopefully the team will bounce back.
Q. How much of an advantage do you feel you have playing here?
S.G.: You could say I have a bit of an advantage because of the number of times I’ve played here, which is my favorite golf course in the world and I love it.
But at the end of the day it all comes down to getting your tee shots, second shots and putts right and trusting yourself and making the right shot.
This course is the kind of course that if you are playing well it gives you chances, but if you miss a little bit then it’s hard to save par. You have to play very, very well.
My experience here is always nice, but that doesn’t mean that I start with -6 and the rest with par.
Q. How much advice have you given to your three teammates? Have you basically told them everything you know about Valderrama or are you holding anything back because there is individual competition?
S.G.: We have talked a little bit about it. I would probably tell Abraham more than Eugenio and Carlos because they’ve played it before and they know a little bit what to expect. But yeah, we had conversations about it.
But I definitely talked to Abraham a lot about coming here, and he was very anxious to know things about Valderrama because he knew he was going to love it.
Q. Abe, is there any advice that Sergio has mentioned out there that you’re really going to pay attention to this week?
A.A.: It’s funny, because he can give me advice, but we can play the course differently. There will be some holes where he might be a little more aggressive than me because there are a lot of trees to dodge. On every hole you can be very aggressive or you can be very conservative.
P. In terms of a team competition, do you think you are the team to beat and how much of an advantage do you have because of Sergio’s experience here?
C.O.: We are in good hands.
E. CH.: Obviously it helps to have Sergio on the team. Everybody would love Sergio, not just this week but almost every week, so we’re happy to have him, and hopefully he can win, he can have a good week, and if that happens, I know our chances are high. So we’re excited and hopefully we can all help the team and we all play well.
P. When you come here, do you feel Seve’s presence?
S.G.: Yes, without a doubt. I think the 1997 Ryder Cup here was very special, to have him was so special, what he was able to accomplish as captain here. I feel Seve in many, many places. Every time you go to the British Open, you feel him and you feel him in the crowd, and obviously this place is no different. You have a lot of history here. I’ve been lucky enough to have a lot of history here.
It’s a shame he’s not with us but we still think of him and we still feel him on all these courses.
Q.: What can we expect from the Spanish fans this week?
S.G.: A lot of energy, a lot of fire, a lot of balls.
E.CH.: It’s going to be strong on Sergio’s game, I promise you.
S.G.: Hopefully we give them a lot to cheer for, and I’m sure they’re all very excited to come, so a lot of passion.
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