The Ryder Cup in Paris has crept into the start of the Andalucía Valderrama Masters thanks to two of its protagonists: Sergio García, pillar of the European team and Thomas Bjørn, the captain. Both are competing this week at Valderrama with the very fresh memory of the spectacular victory achieved just two weeks ago. The emotions experienced in the French capital play in Sergio’s favor to revalidate the victory in the tournament that has the support of the Ministry of Tourism and Sport of the Andalusian Government.
Sergio assures that it was never a priority to beat the Ryder Cup points record, “but it is incredible to be at the top of a list where there are so many great players. It means a lot and I hope everyone realizes how difficult it is. I’m very proud.
“There are many Spaniards with possibilities of being in the Ryder in the future. Jorge Campillo has had options this year, Nacho Elvira has very good potential, obviously Adrián Otaegui, and more players will come out. I think the mentality, the fury and intensity that the Spaniards put into it is a plus, so if you can get two or three in the team it’s always nice.”
Valderrama is one of Sergio Garcia’s favorite courses where his best game usually comes to the fore. He was seventh in the 1999 World Golf Championship American Express and fifth the following year, seventh in the 2002 and 2003 Volvo Masters, second in three consecutive editions from 2004 to 2006, and fourth in the 2008 Volvo Masters; eleventh in the inaugural edition of the Andalucia Masters in 2010, winner in 2011 and 2017, and third in the 2016 Open de España.
In addition, the latest changes made by the Club are a great success, in his opinion. “On the 10th there are a couple of new flags at the beginning of the green, on the 11th there is more room to pull two and a couple of very good flags on the left and on the front right. I also like the entrances on 12, 15 and 16. On 17, the green is a little bigger at the back. The course is spectacular, the greens are rolling at a tremendous speed and quality. Valderrama should be very proud of the work that has been done.
“It’s always nice to come, I’m looking forward to continuing the path of the last month and a half and see if we give ourselves a chance to defend the title.”
European Ryder Cup team captain Thomas Bjørn is also delighted to return to Valderrama. He made his playing debut here in the 1997 Ryder Cup. “I will never forget the first time I walked into the team room, because of who was there: Nick Faldo, Bernhard Langer, Colin Montgomerie, Ian Woosnam, José María Olazábal… and Seve as captain. I think at that moment my career started to take off in another direction and being part of that team, being so young, was very special”.
His dedication to the captaincy of the European team has prevented him from preparing for the competition in recent months, but he had good reasons to come: “I wanted to support Sergio Garcia and his Foundation, for all that it means and has done for golf. What happened a few weeks ago at the Ryder Cup was unique. He showed his qualities and what that competition means to him”.
“I was looking forward to competing again and the best place to do it is Valderrama. It’s very demanding, but it’s one of those courses that, if you have the opportunity to play it, you have to take advantage of it. To be here is a real privilege”.
The children of the CRA Los Olivos de Brea del Tajo challenge Sergio
A group of 13 students from CRA Los Olivos de Brea del Tajo in Madrid visited the Andalucía Valderrama Masters today and had the opportunity to attend Sergio García’s press conference. After the questions from the journalists, the children took a picture with their idol and challenged him to come to their school for a putting competition.
In the courtyard of this school located in a humble Madrid town of just 560 inhabitants, a putting green was inaugurated last year, financed by the Madrid Golf Federation, the City Council and the Community of Madrid. It was the result of a project that was born in 2015, when the children became interested in golf thanks to a promotional campaign by the federation that coincided with the center’s participation in the Desing for Change program.
Part of that program was to do something to improve the environment and the children came up with the idea of building a putting green in the schoolyard.
The children have also asked Sergio if he prefers the Masters or the Ryder victory and he has explained that this is like when they ask them if they love “mommy or daddy more”.
Matches
The competition of the Andalucía Valderrama Masters starts at 8:45 am. Sergio Garcia tees off on the 10th tee at 9.05 a.m. with Lee Westwood and Jorge Campillo.
Álvaro Quirós will begin his participation at 1:35 p.m. on hole 1. He will play with Padraig Harrington and Andrew Johnston, winner of the 2016 Spanish Open held at Valderrama.
Departure times Thursday, October 18 SCHEDULE
The Andalucía Valderrama Masters-Sergio García Foundation, tournament valid for the Race to Dubai, has the support of the Ministry of Tourism and Sport of the Junta de Andalucía, through the European Regional Development Fund of the European Union; the Diputación de Cádiz, the City of San Roque, the Royal Andalusian Golf Federation and the City of Marbella complete the institutional support. It also has the support of La Reserva de Sotogrande, Rolex, Heineken, Dubai Duty Free, Santander Private Banking, Shell, Exterior Plus and Samsic Iberia. Only Water, Quirónsalud Hospital Group, Coca-Cola, Varma, Korporate Technologies Group and Volvo are official suppliers.
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