Real Club de Golf Sotogrande, the new stage for the Estrella Damm N.A. Andalucía Masters, brings back old memories to the Spanish participants, as most of them competed there as amateurs. This week they will go in quest of a Spanish win on the Trent Jones layout on its debut as a DP World Tour venue.
The course has been set up to the highest standards, with tighter fairways, deep Bermuda rough and fast greens, ready to showcase the best golf for the enjoyment of spectators from October 19-22.
Seventeen of the 126 players in the field are Spanish: Pep Anglés, Adri Arnaus, Rafa Cabrera Bello, Jorge Campillo, Alejandro Cañizares, Nacho Elvira, Sebastián García, Alfredo García Heredia, Ángel Hidalgo, Pablo Larrazábal, Jaime Montojo (AM) Adrián Otaegui, Carlos Pigem, Álvaro Quirós, Alejandro del Rey, Santiago Tarrío, and Borja Virto, many of whom posed for the traditional pre-tournament group photo on Tuesday afternoon.
One of the most in-form right now is Alfredo García Heredia who could secure his card for next season at Sotogrande, having finished ninth last week in Madrid.
“I’ll keep doing the same things as last week, stick to my game plan and stay in touch with my coach Jorge Parada. The course is in great shape. I played it a few times after the renovation but there’s a lot more rough than usual. This course can be very challenging with wind. If I lose my card it won’t be for this tournament but because I had four bad months this year,” he admits.
Jaime Montojo, the only amateur in the field, is the winner of last year’s Copa Sotogrande and a member of the club.
“I know all the bad spots to avoid from the tee and around the greens, but my biggest advantage would be a strong wind changing direction from one day to another, because I am very familiar with the prevailing winds. I prefer the westerly, not so much on the first holes but certainly on the back nine with the wind behind. When it blows from the east, 15 and 18 become long, and you get a tense tee shot on 14 with all the water. Anyhow, the course is playing different with tighter fairways, deep rough and greens as fast as ever,” he explains.
Montojo is excited about this week. “This is my first professional tournament. Obviously there’s always pressure, but I am here to enjoy. And whatever happens, I’m sure to learn a lot.”
Álvaro Quirós, another local player, confirms the changes.
“The fairways are narrower, but some are still generous. If you miss them, you lose control out of the Bermuda rough. The course is in great shape, and if we are lucky enough to have some wind, it will be a different story.”
After the group photo there was a surprise for Adri Arnaus who turned 29 on Tuesday and blew out the candles with his colleagues. Arnaus looks forward to his return having played the course in his amateur days.
“I have many good memories of the Copa Sotogrande. The course plays tougher with the high rough. The greens are quite firm for a Tuesday, so that will be the key unless it rains. ”.
This week Adri will keep up his charity initiative in aid of the Gasol Foundation which fights child obesity and promotes healthy habits among children
“I wanted to do something special as we have two tournaments in a row in Spain. I know Pau Gasol very well, so I decided to support his foundation. I donate 100 euro for every birdie I make and 250 for every eagle. Last week I raised around 1800 and hopefully there will be more this week. We are privileged to go around the world doing what we like, and to be able to share something in these tournaments is an honour.”
Rafa Cabrera Bello also played in the Copa Sotogrande and returns after many years.
“I already liked it a lot back then, but I hadn’t played it after the renovation. I think it’s a great course in top condition. Some holes are very interesting, and if the wind picks up it will be very enjoyable and a great tournament.”
To enjoy the tournament you only need to purchase tickets for Estrella Damm N.A. Andalucía Masters, with special prices for federated golfers and free for children under 13, on the event website.
The Estrella Damm N.A. Andalucía Masters, an event in the DP World Tour’s Race to Dubai made possible by the essential contribution of the Real Club de Golf Sotogrande, is sponsored by Estrella Damm and the Consejería de Turismo, Cultura y Deporte de la Junta de Andalucía, jointly funded by the EU and was declared Event of Exceptional Public Interest by the Government of Spain.
