Jorge Campillo set foot on the Real Club Valderrama for the first time when he was just thirteen or fourteen years old. He was one of the most promising golfers of the prolific young Spanish talent pool at the time. He hadn’t even played it yet, only hit balls on the driving range, but that experience was enough for the Sotogrande course to make a big impression on him. “The first time I saw it, I thought I was at the Augusta National”, he remembers with a smile. Now, around 20 years later, he’ll arrive to the Estrella Damm N.A. Andalucía Masters as one of the favourites to win the title. He’s currently sixth in the Race to Dubai, the highest-ranked Spanish golfer, and he already won a title this season.

What are your memories from your first time at Valderrama?

The first time I was hitting balls on the driving range, I thought it was incredible. Not long after, I went to play with my father. Jaime Ortiz-Patiño invited us, and I quickly realized that it was a very different course from anything I’d seen before. It’s got something very special to it. 

And the first competitive round?

I think it was a Pro Am long time ago… I’ve played it several times, but I remember that the first time I finished in second place, just behind Alejandro Cañizares, with two rounds of one and three under par. Perfect playing conditions, no wind and slightly foggy. 

What do you think of Valderrama? How would you define it?

I’ve always said it, it’s an incredible plot of land, just beautiful. Always perfectly kept, I would even go so far as to say it’s maintenance is unsurpassable, but what stands out the most in my mind is that it’s gotten even better over time. A few changes have been made to the course which, in my point of view, were for the better. For example, the changes on the green on the 6th hole, which was very delicate before, or the trees they removed from some of the fairways, like on the 8th hole. I think it was a good move because it made the course more playable and, above all, fairer.

What would you say is the most difficult hole at Valderrama?

Hmm...There are quite a few...Let me think...I would say the 7th and the 16th. The 7th is very long, with a fairway that stretches from right to left while the hole, however, goes in the opposite direction, to the right. The second shot is always with a long club to a very small green. And the 16th, that fairway...It’s really about hitting that fairway. It's very similar, with an embankment from right to left, and the hole veers off to the right. If you don’t hit the fairway, it’s almost impossible. 

What would you say has been your best shot at Valderrama?

I would say it was in one of those Pro-Ams, on the 17th hole. I had a great tee shot, long, above the bunker to the left, although it landed in the rough… That week there wasn’t a lot of wind, but it was still risky to shoot to green. The ball was higher than my feet, but I took a risk and hit it with a 3 wood. It was an incredible shot. It landed on the green. Eagle putt. 

And the shot you dream of hitting one day?

The winning putt, like everyone, I imagine… (laughs). No, but seriously, I set out to hit the fairway all four days on the 16th...Sorry, sorry, what am I talking about four, I made it my mission to hit the fairway three out of the four days on the 16h.

Is it an added pressure or responsibility going into the Estrella Damm N.A. Andalucía Masters as the highest-ranked Spanish golfer?

No, I don't think so. I think I was the highest or close to the highest-ranked last year… In fact, I remember that talking to Sergio García, we were asking each other about how the season was going, and I told him: “it’s going well for me, I can’t complain, I’m ahead of you in the rankings, so I can’t be that bad off...”. And he responded: “Yes, you’re ahead, but I’m right at your heels...”. Some playful jabs. But back to the point: it’s not pressure, on the contrary, an honor and clear demonstration that I’m doing something right this season. The most important thing is to be first in the Race to Dubai at the end of the year. That's what really counts. 

Apart from the Majors and WGC, what would be the most important tournament to win in Spain?

There’s nothing more powerful than winning in Spain, without a doubt. Honestly, you always prefer to win a tournament that has your country’s name attached to it, but Valderrama is a legendary club and holds a very special place, it would be a win much different than any other, and the best tournament in Spain as far as prize pool and lineup. 

Any special preparation for this week?

Well, yes, I’m going to do something different. Normally I arrive for the tournaments on Monday afternoon, but I’m going to arrive in the morning this time to practice on the greens. They're always very fast, and it’s important to try to get a feel for them. 

Tickets for the Estrella Damm N.A. Andalucía Masters 2019 hosted by the Sergio García Foundation are on sale now at the event website, starting from just €7 for juniors and €18 for adults (free entry for children aged under 12 when accompanied by an adult). For more information, see the event website, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

The Estrella Damm N.A. Andalucía Masters hosted by the Sergio García Foundation, an event in the European Tour’s Race to Dubai made possible by the essential contribution of the Real Club Valderrama, is sponsored by Estrella Damm and the Consejería de Turismo, Regeneración, Justicia y Administración Local of the Junta de Andalucía, jointly funded by EU and declared Event of Exceptional Public Interest by the Spanish Government. This tournament is also supported by Diputación de Cádiz, Dubai Duty Free, Rolex, Exterior Plus, La Reserva Club de Sotogrande, Santander Private Banking and Shell. Callaway, Coca-Cola, Enterprise, Grupo Raga, ISDIN, Korporate Technologies Group, Marca, Maui Jim, the Hospital QuirónSalud Campo de Gibraltar, the Real Federación Andaluza de Golf and Volvo are official suppliers. 5J, Gadira, Grupo Joly and Varma collaborate in the event as well.