Jon Rahm will tee it up at the Estrella Damm N.A. Andalucía Masters hosted by the Sergio García Foundation from June 27-30 in the wake of sharing the third spot at Pebble Beach. His return to Valderrama, where he made his first appearance in Spain as a pro, is sure to attract big crowds, together with tournament host Sergio García.

Rahm is progressing steadily in his meteoric rise to the top with four top ten in the Majors since 2016, when he turned pro after a glittering amateur career both in Spain and the U.S. Besides breaking Jack Nicklaus’s record as the leading individual at the 2014 Eisenhower Trophy, he was the only player ever to win the prestigious Ben Hogan Award twice, in 2015 and 2016. His total of 60 weeks spent atop the World Amateur Golf Ranking is the all-time record.  

Having earned his European and PGA Tour cards the fast way, he had an impressive rookie season – he notched his maiden PGA Tour title at the Farmers Insurance Open in January, he earned his first European Tour victory at the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open by six strokes in July, and won the DP World Tour Championship, Dubai, the final event of the 2017 European Tour. Early in 2018 he reached a career-high ranking of No. 2 in the world. His emotional and spectacular win at the Open de España, together with his other international achievements, and his Ryder Cup debut in Paris, round up his remarkable statistics.

Out of his 80 professional tournaments since his debut at the 2015 Phoenix Open as an amateur, Rahm has achieved seven wins and 37 top ten (46.25%). He has won three of the nine regular European Tour events he has entered and got seven top ten (excluding Majors and WGC events). These numbers make up a conclusive statistic of 21 months as the leading Spaniard in the world rankings.

Next week Rahm will be looking to add to his record with a good performance at the Estrella Damm N.A. Andalucía Masters in a venue that played a big role in the origin of his career, as recalled by his father Edorta two years ago:   

“I belong to a group of sporting friends from Bilbao, and two of them were invited to the ’97 Ryder Cup. They had no idea of golf, but returned home full of enthusiasm. In June ’99, Eduardo Celles opened his golf academy in Bilbao, and four months later we started taking lessons. My wife Ángela, and our sons Jon and Eriz took up golf in 2003.” 

Rahm was two years of age when Valderrama famously staged The 1997 Ryder Cup, but his father took him to watch the 2007 Volvo Masters, where the lad enjoyed immensely having his shirt signed by his heroes and never got tired of watching some of the players who are now his rivals on tour or his Ryder Cup teammates, such as Sergio García, Ian Poulter, Paul Casey or Thomas Bjørn.

Ten years later Rahm returned as a superstar for the 2017 Andalucía Valderrama Masters, his first professional appearance on Spanish soil, but missed the cut.

“I believe the problem was mainly mental – too much pressure on myself, too big expectations.  I was playing well and I was very much looking forward to playing for the Spanish public. I tried too hard on every shot and didn’t allow my swing to flow. I put too much responsibility on myself to give a good show instead of playing within myself; but the public was great to me and I felt their support all along the way.”

Next week Rahm will share the headlines of the 2019 Estrella Damm N.A. Andalucía Masters with Sergio García, and he is determined to avenge the bitter experience of two years ago. Boosted by his recent performance at the U.S. Open, he returns to a course he loves with the same thrill that the lad who followed his sporting heroes for the first time.

“Valderrama is one of the best layouts I have played. It is visually attractive and wonderfully maintained. Golf courses don’t need to measure 10,000 yards to be challenging. I find Valderrama very exciting and a good test. You really have to think your way through and play all kinds of shots. Mistakes can be costly, so it keeps you on your toes.

“The boy that went to Valderrama in 2007 is still there, with the same dreams and the same ambition. I am extremely fortunate that my dreams are coming true.”

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.

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.

The faint cry of the emotional outburst can still be heard among the cork trees at Valderrama, venue of the Estrella Damm N.A. Andalucía Masters that will be held from June 27th to June 30th. It was a one-of-a-kind moment deserving of a one-of-a-kind celebration. “I got goosebumps all over”, a still emotional Miguel Ángel Jiménez reminisces. We’re talking, of course, about the albatross the golfer from Malaga made in the second round of the Volvo Masters in 1994. One of the most famous shots in the history of the European Tour. The 17th-hole magic at Real Club Valderrama in all its splendor, an icon which years earlier had managed to exasperate Tiger Woods.

Jiménez wasn’t exactly coming off a good moment in the round. He made a double bogey on the 13th hole and a bogey on the 16th. In fact, in a nutshell, he went from being in the lead in the grand finale of the European Tour to getting lost in the leaderboard. However, maestros don’t need a lot to be awakened and to call on their God-given talent. He hit a solid drive off the tee on the 17th hole, and left the ball 191 meters from the flag, the perfect distance for a 3 iron.

Any other golfer would have doubted the situation. He hadn’t played well the previous holes and it was a high-risk shot to a green perfectly defended by a lake in the middle, a stream to the left and various bunkers. Glory or chaos. Risk and reward, or tragedy. Only the perfect shot would avoid ending up in ruins. And Miguel made the shot, indeed...

“The ball soared through the air and ended up carrying the right distance, bounced on the green, solid, five meters away from the flag and started to roll until it eventually went in”, Miguel recalls. Goosebumps all over his body. Majestic shot. The crowd went mad. An emotional outburst of happiness and excitement flooded the stands in Sotogrande. Everyone knew in that moment that they had witnessed something special that would go down in history. Jimenez was grateful for the significant changes that had been made to that hole for the 1997 Ryder Cup under Seve Ballesteros' supervision.

Jimenez fought for the win in that Volvo Masters to the very last breath, although in the end Bernhard Langer took home the victory. That Friday, October 28th, Langer starred in another grandiose moment at Valderrama. The German golfer handed in a 62 card, a score which, 25 years later and to this day, is still the course record. However, there is nothing more memorable than Jimenez's albatross.

The M for Miguel isn't the only one that's worked its magic on the 17th hole. Thirteen years later, in the same tournament, the Volvo Masters, Graeme McDowell made the second albatross on that very course, on that same corner of the map, on those very grounds, previously known as Las Aves. It happened in the last round while the Northern Irish golfer was fighting for the win.

Gmac hit a 7 iron in his second shot on a day when the ferocious wind at Valderrama helped. Another magical moment. “It was incredible. I had never felt anything like that on a golf course. I know that it will be something I'll never forget and will treasure it forever. Every time I think of it, it makes me smile”, McDowell recalls with a big smile spread across his face.

It's the silver wedding anniversary of Miguel's albatross, and it's been 12 years since McDowell's. In any event, both are eternal, and they've both been commemorated by plaques that mark their place in history at Valderrama. Within just a few days from now, another 144 golfers, those who will compete in the Estrella Damm N.A. Andalucía Masters, will have the opportunity to earn their spot in history next to Jimenez and McDowell in another silver wedding anniversary, seeing as how it will be the twenty-fifth time the European Tour has passed through the impeccable course in Sotogrande.

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.

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The strong commitment of Estrella Damm as title sponsor for a five-year term, together with the full institutional support of the Junta de Andalucía mean an important boost for the Estrella Damm N.A. Andalucía Masters hosted by the Sergio García Foundation. This European Tour event will be held at Real Club Valderrama from June 27-30 featuring a strong field and a prize fund of €3 million–50 percent higher than the 2018 edition. This will be the 61^st European Tour event played on Andalusian soil, which establishes this area as the Spanish powerhouse of international golf.

Real Club Valderrama is the flagship of golf in this area, having staged 25 of those events. The relevance of Andalusia as a leading golf destination and a major force in sports and tourism has been highlighted by the authorities gathered at Real Club Valderrama on Monday, June 10^th, headed by Juan Marín, Vice President and Councillor for Tourism, Regeneration, Justice and Local Administration of the Junta de Andalucía. He was joined at the presentation table by Juan Carlos Ruiz Boix, Mayor of San Roque and Vice President of the Diputación de Cádiz; Nuno de Brito e Cunha, President of Real Club Valderrama; Pablo Mansilla García, President of the Royal Andalusia Golf Federation; Peter Adams, European Tour Head of Championship Manager; and Javier Reviriego Bóveda, General Manager of Real Club Valderrama.

Juan Marín, Vice President of the Junta de Andalucía: “On behalf of the Government of Andalusia, I wish to acknowledge and thank the sponsorship of Estrella Damm. The contribution of private companies, as well as the institutions, is key to the success of this event. I am convinced that this will be a long-standing partnership, because anybody that comes to Andalusia will not want to leave–they are very welcome here.

“In a few days’ time we will have the best golfers competing, and, once again, Valderrama will showcase Andalusia to 400 million spectators. Golf plays a major role in Andalusia’s tourism industry–when golf does well, tourism does well–so much so that we are breaking all records. Last year we had 104 golf courses–70 percent of them in Málaga and Cádiz–and 600,000 tourists came only for golf; this year we are already 6 percent over that figure, This type of tourist stays longer, spends more and generates more benefit.

“I wish to reaffirm our commitment to the tournament for the coming years because golf is a priority sector in the action plan of the Junta de Andalucía and will remain so in 2020. Andalusia is reaching historical levels and will continue to do so, providing we keep striving for quality and excellence such as exemplified by Real Club Valderrama.”

Juan Carlos Ruiz Boix, Mayor of San Roque: “Not even eight months after the last edition of this event, we are growing stronger. We have the longstanding support of Sergio García, who is part of the family, and now Joh Rahm has joined our team. The big challenge is to promote this tournament into the Rolex Series, and we can do it by working together.

“I want to give a very special thank you to Estrella Damm, and I would like to encourage other companies to join this tournament which has been declared of exceptional public interest and provides tax benefits. Golf generates economic activity and wealth that stays in the area. If anybody still harbours prejudices against golf, they should think again. Golf is an accessible sport, as proved every day at San Roque where we have a municipal golf school with over 300 students. Top players such as Álvaro Quirós and María Parra came out of this school.

“I invite every golf fan to come enjoy the action, and if they have any energy left after following the players, we have scheduled the Guadiaro fair for the same week.”

Nuno Brito e Cunha, President of Real Club Valderrama: “Valderrama has a brilliant competitive history of world-class tournaments–Ryder Cup, American Express, Volvo Masters–although we had a gap of several years without them. This club always had in mind hosting big tournaments again, and thanks to the Junta de Andalucía–our major friend and associate–we managed to take the first steps towards renewed competition at Valderrama. The 2016 Open de España was a good start, and we kept progressing from there.

“This year we are taking the second step. With the support of the Junta de Andalucía and our new sponsor, Estrella Damm, we have built a bigger and richer tournament with more international weight. But this club doesn’t want to stop here; it’s no secret that we plan to go one step more. I Suggest that we all work together in order to have a Rolex Series event within the next few years. It’s a high call, but I believe that it’s worth the effort for Spain and for Andalusia.”

Pablo Mansilla García, President of the Royal Andalusia Golf Federation: “It is a privilege to have Real Club Valderrama and we must be thankful, because such a jewel would be impossible without the constant efforts of the club and its members. We also thank the Junta de Andalucía for their support. We all know that golf is not only a sport, but a big industry in Andalusia–the main golf destination in Europe and the number one destination of international golf tourism in the world.”

Peter Adams, Head of Championship Management of the European Tour:  “El European Tour está en deuda con la Junta de Andalucía, que ha apoyado muchos de los torneos albergados por Valderrama y que ha desempeñado un papel trascendental a la hora de promoverlos. Somos plenamente conscientes de la importancia que tiene el turismo de golf para Andalucía y haremos todo lo posible para promocionar la marca Andalucía en todo el mundo.

"The Estrella Damm N.A, Andalucía Masters has a bright future ahead and we are very much looking forward to working with the Consejero, Mr. Juan Marín, in developing and growing this event for the coming years. This event will have a very positive effect on the promotion of golf in Spain and more specifically in Andalucía.”

Javier Reviriego Bóveda, General Manager of Real Club Valderrama: “Up to now this tournament was normally held in autumn, so this year the new dates will mean different weather conditions. This will change considerably the course set-up compared to October, as the fairways will be harder, the greens will be firmer and the rough will be slightly thicker.

“At the end of the day we must protect ourselves from the huge distances that these players hit the ball, because our course is not long for modern standards. We must set the course up in order to reward skill and strategy more than distance. It has always been our policy to maintain the essence of our course, and to provide a tough test for the players and a good show for the public.”

The Estrella Damm N.A. Andalucía Masters hosted by the Sergio Garcia Foundation returned to the European Tour schedule in 2017 after a six-year gap, with the Junta de Andalucía and Sergio Garcia supporting the event through his foundation, and a new era for the event was heralded this year when Estrella Damm, the iconic premium lager brand of the Spanish brewing company Damm, became the new title sponsor in a significant five-year deal.

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 the Diputación de Cádiz, Dubai Duty Free, Rolex, Exterior Plus, La Reserva Club de Sotogrande, Santander Private Banking and Shell. Callaway, 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.