The Estrella Damm N.A. Andalucía Masters celebrates its tenth edition, all of them held in the Sotogrande area of San Roque, returning to Real Club de Golf Sotogrande with a spectacular field headed by Jon Rahm, two-time Major winner and the best Spaniard in the world ranking. All this has been discussed at the press conference in which the tournament, to be held from October 17-20 was presented. Tickets for the event can be purchased here.

The representatives of the entities and institutions related to the tournament took advantage of the Estrella Damm N.A. Andalucía Masters press conference to emphasize their union. Once again, golf shows its roots in the San Roque area and its touristic, economic, promotional and cultural potential through a professional event. This is the sixth year in which Estrella Damm, the premium beer brand of the Spanish company Damm, gives its name to the tournament and strengthen his ties with sport and golf.

Kostka Horno, Real Club de Golf Sotogrande manager, highlighted the trajectory of the club and the players who are on the list of winners of the tournaments held at the Cadiz club. The impeccable Robert Trent Jones course, the first European design by this famous architect, returns to the forefront of golfing news.

“The Estrella Damm NA Andalucía Masters offers a great opportunity to show our course to the world, a 1964 Robert Trent Jones jewel completely restored in 2015, that many amateurs did not know about. We have a great tradition in amateur competition thanks to the Sotogrande Cup, but it had been 40 years since we had hosted a professional tournament.”

“We are sure that this second edition is going to be a great success like last year and will help us position ourselves among the best courses, as well as boost Sotogrande and San Roque as a golf destination.”

Andalusia has already hosted 66 DP World Tour tournaments, to which should be added events such as the recent Solheim Cup, the Ryder Cup or a good number of other professional tours. In addition, Andalusia is a regular venue for top-level amateur events such as the Sotogrande Cup, also held at the Real Club de Golf Sotogrande. It is clear that Andalusia and golf have been going hand in hand for a long time.

“Golf tourism is fundamental in our strategy for its deseasonalization ability. For the first time, we have achieved that the first and third quarters of the year grow more than the second quarter, which corresponds to the summer months,” said Arturo Bernal, Minister of Tourism and Global Andalusia of the Junta de Andalucía.

“We receive a million players a year who generate an income of 2,000 million euros and provide jobs for some 50,000 people. Golf is an industry in Andalusia and now we are working especially to attract the Z generation, which is the future.”

“Golf is also a model of sustainability and this course is an example. Eighty percent of the 120 Andalusian courses irrigate with reclaimed water and the rest do not because they do not yet have the necessary infrastructure. The golf sector's commitment to the environment is undeniable.”

José María Zamora, tournament director of the DP World Tour, gave a complete overview of the tournament's field and highlighted the importance of its position on the schedule, as it will be vital for those who are fighting to get into the Tour Play-Offs.

“I would like to highlight the enormous contribution to golf that Real Club de Golf Sotogrande has made thanks to the Sotogrande Cup, one of the best amateur tournaments played and won by many players of the DP World Tour.”

“This year we are going to hold a new event of the G4D Tour (Golf for Disabled), the circuit for players with disabilities that shows the most inclusive side of golf.”

José Crespo, president of the Professional Committee of the Royal Andalusian Golf Federation, stressed the importance of tournaments such as the Estrella Damm N.A. Andalucía Masters for amateurs, and its value in popularising golf and complementing the initiatives launched by federations such as the Andalusian one.

“From the Royal Andalusian Golf Federation we emphasize the importance of an event like the Estrella Damm NA Andalucía Masters to promote the sport among the youngest and to form junior players.”

“It is impressive how many children play golf in this area and they will have the opportunity to see their idols up close. Junior golf is vital and this tournament is a great boost to our sport.”

Paula Conesa, Third Vice-President of the Diputación de Cádiz, also wanted to remark the importance of initiatives such as the Estrella Damm N.A. Andalucía Masters in the promotional strategy of the institution she represents.

“This tournament contributes to increase the prestige of our province and to turn it into a reference in the organization of big events”.

“During the next week we are going to be the European capital of golf and that is a very important lever for tourism in the whole province. There is no better marketing campaign.”

Juan Carlos Ruiz Boix, Mayor of San Roque, then emphasized the character of his municipality and the importance that golf has in its history, marked by the courses that are located in it and by the importance of the tournaments that they host.

“San Roque is an unparalleled golf destination with nine outstanding courses including a municipal course, La Cañada, with a 300 children golf school. In addition, we enjoy 300 days of sunshine a year and an average temperature of 24 degrees.”

“We have a great deal of experience in hosting major golf tournaments and the important thing is to extend the sporting and tourism impact far beyond the days of competition. The tournament has a potential audience of more than 400 million viewers worldwide.”

“I encourage all fans to come and enjoy not only the golf but also our gastronomic and leisure offer.”

As all the members of the top table made clear, the Estrella Damm N.A. Andalucía Masters has become a powerful sporting, cultural and touristic engine for San Roque, Cádiz and Andalucía, attracting quality tourism and becoming a world reference.

Its location in the schedule, in the decisive stage of the season (in the Back 9 of the DP World Tour), has made it possible to attract a star-studded field that will include the best Spanish players and a good number of international stars.

Among them are Jon Rahm, two-time Major winner and the best Spanish player in the world ranking, Ángel Hidalgo, champion of the Spanish Open recently held in Madrid, Adrián Otaegui, winner of the tournament in 2022, and the international players Nicolai and Rasmus Hojgaard, Matteo Manassero, Niklas Norgaard, Víctor Pérez, Thorbjorn Olesen and Matt Wallace.

Tickets are already available, with discounts for members of the federation (and their families/friends) and free access for children under 13, and can be purchased here.

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 Junta de Andalucía, jointly funded by the EU and was declared Event of Exceptional Public Interest by the Government of Spain.