Originally planned to tee off on April 30 but postponed following the suspension of the season due to the global Coronavirus pandemic, the 2020 Estrella Damm N.A. Andalucía Masters has been rescheduled for September 3-6 at the iconic Real Club Valderrama and will now form part of the reshaped 2020 Race to Dubai as the only Spanish event. The combined efforts and continued support of all the partners and key stakeholders was shown at the press conference held at the Real Club Valderrama and served as a perfect metaphor of the unity needed to face the future in these challenging times. Once again, golf become the driving force for Spain and Andalucía and show its commitment with society.
Tournament Director Peter Adams intervened on behalf of the European Tour to thank all institutions involved for their determined support of an event that will send out a clear message of hope and optimism.
“This announcement owes everything to the support of our long-term partners and key stakeholders and we are especially indebted to Nuno Brito e Cunha, President of the Real Club Valderrama, Javier Reviriego, their General Manager, and the Board of Real Club Valderrama for agreeing to host the rescheduled tournament this September. At the same time, we are delighted that Jorge Villavechia and his team at Estrella Damm and the Consejero, Manuel Munoz and our partners at the Junta de Andalucia have also pledged their support. We very much appreciate the continued support from the national Federation and also the Federation de Andalucía and in particular we thank them for their help in our discussions with the various authorities regarding the protocols required to stage the tournament in relation to Covid-19. Our thanks also go to the Mayor (Alcalde) of San Roque Juan Carlos Ruiz Boix for his continued support, summarized Adams in his speech.
“In these unprecedented and challenging times it is the strength of these established friendships and relationships that enable a team to come together to take on the challenges set by Covid-19 and to produce a tournament at Valderrama which brings live leading professional golf back to Spain, giving golf fans the opportunity to cheer on their heroes again while showcasing some of the finest players in the world competing in the remarkable and beautiful region of Andalucia proclaiming that Spain and Andalucia are open for business and ready to welcome and receive golf tourists once again”, ended the European Tour representative.
Javier Reviriego, General Manager of the Real Club Valderrama, underlined the main points of Adam’s words and focused on the special character of this edition of the Estrella Damm N.A. Andalucía Masters.
“We have gone through difficult months and it has been a tough decision to hold the tournament, but we considered our duty to take this opportunity to contribute to the economic recovery and the much-needed tourism revival. We also feel obliged to back the European Tour in these trying times. This will be the 26th European Tour event staged at the Real Club Valderrama, and we are determined to stand by the players and the sponsors giving them our full support”, said Reviriego.
In addition, the Real Club Valderrama wishes to stress the social dimension of the tournament with measures of great scope for the local community.
“It will be a special event, with safety as our top priority. We still don’t know if we will have a public, but we want to make a golf celebration at Valderrama within our possibilities. We shall strictly follow all the sanitary guidelines recommended by health authorities and we will stage the best possible tournament under the circumstances. This year we intend to give our tournament a strong social dimension, and we will make an important financial donation in order to help mitigate the consequences of the pandemic at a local level. We want to send a message of optimism that will boost the image of golf as a sport committed to society and a driving force for tourism”, said Valderrama’s General Manager.
Regarding the field and the prize fund, Reviriego pertinently summed up the current situation.
“We still don’t have players’ confirmations, and much will depend on travelling restrictions. For instance, the US Open will be played two weeks later, so if the US is under quarantine, Sergio García will be unable to come”.
“The price fund is yet to be decided. If we cannot offer our sponsors certain benefits – such as hospitality tents – we might make some adjustments. In any case, part of the money will go to social aid”, explained. “Our main objective for this year is to convey a safe and solid image in order to come back stronger in 2021”.
The Estrella Damm N.A. Andalucía Masters will be governed by the Tour’s comprehensive Health Strategy, which has been developed by Chief Medical Officer Dr Andrew Murray in consultation with health care specialists Cignpost and advisors in many of the 30 countries in which the European Tour plays.
Gonzaga Escauriaza, President of the Royal Spanish Golf Federation, referred to the weight of Real Club Valderrama on the European stage and emphasised the importance of this tournament to promote a good image of golf as a safe sport worldwide.
“I would like to point out the generosity and solidarity shown by Real Club Valderrama in its bid to maintain the tournament. This staging is an achievement that bears witness to the confidence of all sponsors in the Club that changed the history of European golf”, highlighted the RFEG President. “The tournament will be a major media focus so that people can see that golf can be played with no risk of contagion. In addition, it will contribute to a much-needed tourism recovery during the second half of the year”.
Pablo Mansilla, President of the Royal Andalusian Golf Federation, also pointed out that golf is a safe sport to practice and described Andalusia as a wonderful tourist destination.
“The staging of this tournament is very important for all of us for two main reasons. It is important for golf because it helps prove that golf is a very safe sport, and it is important for Andalusia because it proves that this is the best place to be right now”.
In turn, the Mayor of San Roque Juan Carlos Ruiz Boix remembered all those who bravely faced the pandemic at their workplaces and highlighted the importance of the tournament for the area.
“I wish to convey my gratitude to all health workers as well as to professionals in sectors such as food, logistics or security who form the front line in the fight against COVID-19”, said Ruiz Boix. “Besides, I would very much like to praise the attitude of Real Club Valderrama – in particular their General Manager Javier Reviriego– for seeking a response to the situation other than cancelling the tournament. The Estrella Damm N.A. Andalucía Masters plays a major role in the economy of our community. San Roque boasts nine of the best golf courses in Spain, led by Valderrama”.
Manuel Muñoz, General Secretary for Tourism of the Regional Government of Andalusia, had the honour to close de presentation and made a clear statement.
“The staging of the Estrella Damm NA Andalucía Masters is a significant milestone for the Government of Andalusia because we want to convey the message that Andalusia is a safe place, so it’s important to regain a sense of normalcy. The situation was very difficult in April, that’s why we are so proud to be able to present this great tournament”, explained the General Secretary. “Through this golf event we will showcase our tourism resources to the world, while consolidating our leadership as a golf destination. Golf generates €700 million per year in Andalusia – one million persons come here mainly to play golf.”
After returning with two dual-ranking events in Austria, the European will continue with the six event UK Swing, before the action moves to Spain and Portugal with the Estrella Damm N.A. Andalucía Masters (September 3-6) and the Portugal Masters (September 10-13).
The Estrella Damm N.A. Andalucía Masters will be the 25th European Tour-sanctioned individual event held at the world-famous Real Club Valderrama, which became the first venue in Continental Europe to host The Ryder Cup, when the late, great Seve Ballesteros led Europe to victory in 1997.
The event will be governed by the Tour’s comprehensive Health Strategy, which has been developed by Chief Medical Officer Dr Andrew Murray, and will also be underpinned by the European Tour’s new ‘Golf for Good’ initiative which aims to support communities where the European Tour plays, reward true heroes, such as frontline workers, and promote the many health benefits that golf offers.
Last year, Christiaan Bezuidenhout won his first European Tour title on what is regarded as one of the toughest tests in golf, finishing a mammoth six strokes ahead of a chasing pack which included four Spanish golfers, including the current World Number Two John Rahm.
The Estrella Damm N.A. Andalucía Masters, 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 the EU, declared Event of Exceptional Public Interest by the Spanish Government, and backed by the Real Federación Española de Golf. This tournament is also supported by La Reserva Club de Sotogrande, Rolex, Santander Private Banking and Shell. Callaway, Enterprise, Grupo Raga, Kyocera, Maui Jim, Grupo Hospitalario Quirónsalud and the Real Federación Andaluza de Golf are official suppliers.
