The Andalucía Valderrama Masters-Sergio García Foundation is reinforced in its fourth edition with new sponsors, greater institutional support and improvements in the golf course that consolidate one of the most important golf events of the year and maintain its firm commitment to the future. From October 19 to 21, the Real Club Valderrama will once again be the focus of the world golfing spotlight and will present the course in the best conditions for the occasion after having completed its ambitious improvement plan.
The support of the Ministry of Tourism and Sport of the Andalusian Government, main sponsor of the event, is joined by the Provincial Council of Cadiz which, together with the City Council of San Roque and the Royal Andalusian Golf Federation, complete the institutional backing of the event. In addition, Santander Private Banking, La Reserva de Sotogrande, Rolex, Heineken, Dubai Duty Free, Shell, Exterior Plus, Samsic Iberia, Only Water, Quirónsalud Hospital Group, Coca-Cola, Varma and Korporate Technologies Group complete the list of sponsors.
The presentation at the Real Club Valderrama has highlighted the importance of an event that has become the best showcase for Andalusian tourism and an important economic injection for the Campo de Gibraltar.
Nuno de Brito e Cunha, president of Real Club Valderrama: “Welcome everyone to a club we are proud to belong to, a Spanish and Andalusian club. Last year the Andalucía Valderrama Masters was a great success culminating with the victory of Sergio García, we have worked hard to grow and we have incorporated several sponsors that assure us a very promising future.
“We would love for the tournament to start today, but we guarantee that the course will arrive in optimal conditions, even better than last year thanks to the refurbishment work on the second nine holes. It will undoubtedly be a worthy setting for the 2018 Andalucía Valderrama Masters.”
Antonio Fernández, Secretary General for Sport of the Junta de Andalucía: “These major international events are an ideal showcase to showcase the goodness of our land, and also serve for Andalusia to be seen as synonymous with quality and excellence.
“The fact that the Andalucía Valderrama Masters has been recognized as an Event of Special Public Interest is no coincidence, and consolidates it as one of the best at international level. It has all the ingredients for it: one of the best courses (we must highlight Valderrama’s remarkable effort in this regard), the best players in the international scene for the enjoyment of the more than 40,000 people who will attend the tournament, the weather and the light.
“Sport and tourism, tourism and sport, is a perfect pairing that contributes to development and wealth generation. How much would it be worth to reach 400 million households, that is, the scope of the Andalucía Valderrama Masters? An incalculable figure. Therefore, the commitment of the Junta de Andalucía is clear: to continue betting on this tournament”.
Mayor of San Roque, Juan Carlos Ruiz Boix: “The Andalucia Valderrama Masters makes us again in the world golf capital.The Andalucia Valderrama Masters makes us again in the world golf capital and is the best showcase to promote the Campo de Gibraltar, it is also an engine of tourism and economic development.
“Valderrama is synonymous with quality and with the improvements that have been made to the course it will be even more so. We are very grateful to all the sponsors and institutions, such as the Diputación de Cádiz, which joins this year, for making a tournament that has been consolidated with this fourth edition grow.
“You only have to look at last year’s figures to appreciate the importance of the tournament: 40,000 spectators, more than 200 accredited journalists and 400 million television viewers.
“The Andalucía Valderrama Masters is a unique event that reaffirms San Roque as a unique destination and we will continue to bet on it.”
Pablo Mansilla, president of the Royal Andalusian Golf Federation: “Once again, and this is the fourth time, Andalusia and the Real Club Valderrama will be the best possible venue for a major golf event considered, as of this year, an event of exceptional public interest.
“The tournament has enormous importance and tourist impact for our destination, and that is why I want to emphasize what for the golf sector means the support that from our public institutions -and, especially, from the Ministry of Tourism and Sport- is given to major tournaments. The bet for its celebration is the best promotional campaign of our destination, allowing us to show Andalusia from one end to the other, showing the quality and variety of our golf courses and our magnificent offer for the visiting golfer.
“Last year, more than 400 million households on five continents were able to enjoy the tournament and the public that came to the course vibrated with the victory of the host of the event, Sergio Garcia, who this year will defend his title. I thank the institutions and sponsors for making this great golf festival possible in Andalusia, in our home, and I encourage all fans to attend the event so that, once again, this edition will be a great success.
Simon Alliss, Director of the Andalucía Valderrama Masters: “It is always a privilege and a pleasure to come to Valderrama, thank you for taking such good care of us.
“The European Tour enjoys a special relationship with our sponsors and partners, as they bring a unique character to the sport. We feel very fortunate to have such a close relationship with the Junta de Andalucía, whose support is invaluable. I would also like to thank the Diputación de Cádiz, the Federación Andaluza de Golf and the Ayuntamiento de San Roque for their continued support.
“It is an honor for me to be involved in this tournament. We have always enjoyed and had fun with Spanish golf, and we want to show the world that it is booming again. We are very fortunate to have a great family of partners: La Reserva de Sotogrande, Heineken, Dubai Duty Free, Santander Private Bank, Rolex, Shell, Exterior Plus, Samsic Iberia, Only Water, Grupo Hospitalario Quirónsalud, Coca-Cola, Varma and Korporate Technologies Group.
“In our battle against plastic on golf courses we have the support of Only Water, a company from Malaga that markets water with an innovative container. In our world we cannot ignore environmental issues and we are delighted that the Andalucía Valderrama Masters will probably become the first tournament on the European Tour that is committed to sustainability. It is our first step in favor of recycling and we hope to do even better in the future.
“We are also determined to raise awareness of the health benefits of golf, as there is nothing better than walking around a golf course. In collaboration with QuirónSalud, we are delighted to introduce a new initiative: a Walk and Win day where we encourage the public to enjoy golf and discover how healthy it is to walk outdoors… with the chance to win exciting prizes.”
Javier Reviriego, general manager of RC Valderrama: “In March we completed an ambitious improvement plan with the aim of presenting the course at the same level as the best tournaments in the world.
“We have renovated all the greens on the course. It was an agronomic change and we just increased the size of the 11th green, par 5, back to its original design following Kyle Phillips’ guidelines. We have also made important improvements around the greens, where we have replaced with fescue the grass that had been contaminated with different species. With this improvement we are going to achieve greater uniformity and consistency, above all, it will be a fairer course.
“The height of the cut around the green will depend on the weather conditions, it’s something we will assess with the European Tour, but with these changes we have more room to maneuver on the greens.
“Finally, on the 17th hole, the buggy path that was near the lake has been relocated, which is going to allow more players to try to attack the green.”
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.
Photos: Freelance Agency
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