The Estrella Damm N.A. Andalucía Masters makes for an eventful week that goes beyond the purely sporting action. The social and family character of the event is reflected in a large number of initiatives featured for the week.
• On Wednesday, Sergio García, on behalf of his Foundation, presented the representatives of “Por una sonrisa” with €110,000 raised in the 2018 edition of the tournament. This association aims to improve the well-being of young cancer patients. In 2019, half of the funds raised during tournament week will go towards a cause promoted by tournament host through the Sergio Garcia Foundation, with the other half going to the European Tour Foundation. Up to now €60,000 were raised at Tuesday’s charity auction, with the star item being Sergio’s golf bag at the last Ryder Cup.
• Once again, the Royal Andalusian Golf Federation group starred in Wednesday’s Pro-Am. The team, made up by three promising juniors from Andalusia – Ana Amalia Pina, Marta López and Ángel Ayora – played nine holes with Benjamin Hebert in the morning and the second nine with Guido Migliozzi in the afternoon. Another local team qualified for the Pro-Am through the amateur tour Gran Copa Diputación. Manuel Huerta Paez, Antonio Ochoteco and Eva Camacho made up the Diputación de Cádiz team and had the opportunity to play with David Borda and Richard Sterne.
• Valderrama is the only Spanish course to play host to four different official European Tour events. They are the Volvo Masters (1988-1996 and 2002-2008), WGC – Mexico Championship (1999-2000), Estrella Damm N.A. Andalucía Masters (2010-2011 and 2017-2018) and Open de España (2016)
• At the par five 17th on Thursday, Haydn Porteous found the cup with his second shot – a six iron from 215 yards. This was the fourth albatross in Valderrama history and the third in this hole, after those made by McDowell and Jiménez.
• Former world number one Ai Miyazato is present at Real Club Valderrama this week. The nine time LPGA Tour winner has come support her brother Yusaku playing in the tournament.
• Pablo Larrazábal had a great performance on Thursday on the testy Valderrama greens. His 22 putts were the best of the day.
• One of the highlights of the day was the clinic promoted by the European Tour for 16 promising golfers from the junior squads of the Royal Andalusian Golf Federation. Pedro Oriol and Javi Colomo enjoyed conducting this clinic almost as much as did their attentive audience.
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 the 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, el 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.
