Major winner Sergio García will return to the Andalucía Valderrama Masters hosted by the Sergio García Foundation to defend his title, as the tournament is once again held at Real Club Valderrama.
The 2017 Masters Tournament Champion rounded off a special year at his favourite course as he lifted the trophy in his first tournament on home soil following his triumph at Augusta National, and the victory was event sweeter as it came in an event supported by his own charitable foundation.
This year’s tournament on October 18-21 will once again be sponsored by the Autonomous Government of Andalusia with the support of the Sergio García Foundation. The Spaniard set up his charitable foundation in 2002 for the purpose of contributing to the social inclusion of economically-deprived children through social assistance benefits and the practice of sport as free-time activity.
García delighted Spanish fans with an emotional victory in Sotogrande last year, as he sealed his third win of the season to add to his maiden Major title at Augusta National as well as the Omega Dubai Desert Classic trophy.
The home hero continued his love affair with the venue - where he became the first Spaniard to win a European Tour stroke play event in 2011 - as he lifted the trophy at the end of a week in which he was awarded Honorary Life Membership of both the European Tour and Real Club Valderrama.
The Sergio García Foundation donated all the funds raised at the 2017 Andalucía Valderrama Masters to Madrid’s Hospital Universitario La Paz to help support a makeover of the children's x-ray unit. The money will be spent redesigning the unit into a welcoming, bright and relaxing environment for the children who receive treatment there.
García said: “It was an amazing experience to be able to win in Spain, and in my first tournament back in Spain as the Masters Champion. To win at my favourite golf course, Valderrama, and at our own event that we do with our Foundation, it was the perfect mix. I’m really excited to go back there this year.
“The tournament is really important and it brings a lot to our Foundation so that we can help out as many people as we can. Last year we helped with building a new x-ray room in a hospital in Madrid. It’s really important to us to and we’re excited to hopefully raise as much as possible and help out again.”
It is 21 years since Garcia’s countryman and hero Seve Ballesteros captained Europe to a 14 ½ - 13 ½ win over the USA at Real Club Valderrama, and as the biennial tournament returns to Continental Europe for the first time since that memorable victory in 1997, the eight-time Ryder Cup star is excited about the prospect of bringing more glory to his favourite golf course.
He said: “There are a lot of great tournaments coming up ahead of our tournament in Valderrama, so I’m very excited to hopefully play well going in to it.
“There are a lot of Majors to come and obviously The Ryder Cup. It would be nice to get our hands on it again and bring it back to Valderrama where Seve was the Ryder Cup captain.”
Early bird tickets for the 2018 Andalucía Valderrama Masters hosted by the Sergio Garcia Foundation are just €8 for the Pro-Am on Wednesday October 17, €12 on Thursday and Friday of the tournament and €20 on Saturday and Sunday. Children aged under 14 are admitted to the event free of charge when accompanied by a ticket holding adult. Tickets are available now HERE
