Matt Fitzpatrick at Real Club Valderrama's 17th hole (credit © Real Club Valderrama)

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Matt Fitzpatrick’s enthusiasm for the test at Real Club Valderrama remains undiminished as he prepares to defend his Estrella Damm N.A. Andalucía Masters title - and close the gap at the top of the DP World Tour Rankings in partnership with Rolex.

The Englishman posted a patient bogey-free final round of 69 to win at the iconic 1997 Ryder Cup venue last year, and his career has since reached new heights after sealing a maiden Major victory at the U.S. Open in June. While he admits his expectations have altered since then, this date remains firmly circled on his calendar.

The eight-time DP World Tour winner has registered a further three top-20 finishes worldwide this year, including a runner-up spot at 2023 Ryder Cup venue Marco Simone Golf & Country Club in last month’s DS Automobiles Italian Open.

He currently sits in second place behind Ryder Cup team-mate Rory McIlroy in the DP World Tour Rankings and, like third placed Ryan Fox, he has his sights set on topping the pile for the first time come November.

Fox arrives in Spain in a buoyant mood after his second win of the season at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship two weeks ago and is looking for a big finish to become New Zealand's first European Number One.

The Spanish contingent at Real Club Valderrama includes Ryder Cup player Rafa Cabrera Bello, who is seeking more success on home soil to add to his 2021 acciona Open de España title, while Alejandro Cañizares will make his 400th DP World Tour appearance at his home course.

PLAYER QUOTES 

Matt Fitzpatrick: A lot has changed (since the Major win), expectations have changed, thoughts about everything have changed. Since the U.S. Open, I feel like I want to play events that I want to play. I’m going to places where I want to be and enjoy being, and this is a prime example of one of those. I’m really excited to tee off tomorrow.

There are just so many things that make this a tough test. The greens are small, fairways are tight, trees everywhere, the wind is swirling. It’s just a real test of everything. There is a bit more importance on driving, if you put the ball in play off the tee you can limit the mistakes. The last twice I played here – first time I missed the cut and wasn’t driving well, second time I drove it great and came out with a great result.

Patience is important. I had 15 pars in a row (on Sunday). Made my first birdie on 16 then birdied 17 to give myself a cushion going into 18. But patience is the key, it’s about not getting frustrated by bogeys. Sometimes making a bogey is good – it could have been more. If you can limit them, a winning score round here typically isn’t low, so it’s just important to keep yourself in it.

This is a chance for me to catch Rory this week, particularly round a golf course that I am comfortable on. Looking forward to having a chance going into Dubai. Winning the DP World Tour Rankings is on my list of goals. Hopefully can do it this year.

Ryan Fox: The Dunhill win probably hasn’t sunk in yet, it still feels a bit surreal. Obviously I know it happened and it’s been a whirlwind to be honest.

I just won’t change anything. I’ve done a good job this year of just trying to beat the golf course every week, not worrying about any external stuff and just go out and try to do the same thing every week, have a care-free attitude on the golf course.

If I can keep doing that for the rest of the year, hopefully I can challenge Rory and Fitz for the (DP World Tour Rankings) title at the end of the year. I’ve got to do something special to beat those guys, that have had fantastic years and are top ten players in the world for a reason.

Rafa Cabrera Bello: This is an iconic course. We know how difficult it is, it’s a true challenge, and I’m looking forward to fighting against it again this week. Bring it on. 

You need an extra dose of patience here. It’s very tough. Some shots need to be extremely accurate for them to end up being good shots, and good shots end up in bad places – that’s what makes it so hard.

I’m very proud of the Spanish crowds. I love the way they have treated me all over Spain. The Spanish crowds support us really well and they also have fun, you can feel the interaction with them. I just hope I can play good because I feel like I feed off them, but I know I need to hit the shots for it. I hope this week is my week and I’m up there again.

Alejandro Cañizares: It’s a big coincidence (to play the 400th event at home). I didn’t know until last week, it’s a coincidence that it’s at my home club and I’m really happy about it.

It’s just another tournament that I will play but I’m looking forward to the week, I’m with my family and at my home club. Very excited.

Looking back, I’ve learned that it’s not as important as it looks every week. Look at the bigger picture and see that time flies. Enjoy every moment that you can, enjoy every week. Don’t take playing on Tour for granted – I’ve learned that the last few years.

I’m excited, I’m still motivated, I’m still young enough – I think. I’ve got a lot of golf to show and I’m excited for the end of the year and what comes next.

Enjoying this DP World Tour event is easy and you can acquire individual day tickets, weekend passes or season tickets at experiences.dpworldtour.com/edam or at Real Club Valderrama box office (credit or debit card payment required).

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 Valderrama, is sponsored by Estrella Damm and the Consejería de Turismo, Cultura y Deporte of the Junta de Andalucía, jointly funded by the EU and was declared Event of Exceptional Public Interest by the Government of Spain.

 

 

Alejandro Cañizares in a practice round at Estrella Damm N.A. Andalucía Masters (credit © Real Club Valderrama)

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Next Thursday, Alejandro Cañizares will reach the remarkable milestone of 400 DP World Tour events as he tees it up at the Estrella Damm N.A. Andalucía Masters, as determined as ever to “give his best in every shot”.

Reaching 400 events on tour is no small achievement, and to do it at home, “an incredible coincidence,” says Alejandro. “This is my club; I have practiced here since I was 15 or 16 and they’ve always helped me a lot. It’s very special to celebrate it here”.

Cañizares recalls vividly his first appearance on the then European Tour as an amateur, the 2002 Canarias Open de España, aged 19. “My brother caddied for me and I finished fourth from bottom, but Seve Ballesteros was behind me, and we also met at the airport. As I didn’t make the cut, we drove around the island and had a great time”.

In 2006 he won his card with full playing rights and needed only three starts to notch his first victory, the 2006 Russian Open. The second came at the 2014 Hassan II Trophy in Morocco.

Cañizares is proud of his 400 tournaments, “that means that I’ve teed it up many times during my 16-year career”. With countless battles in his bag, he looks forward to playing once again on his home course, Real Club Valderrama, in front of his home crowd.

“It’s been a tough year in terms of golf and also mentally, but the game is not over. I can’t have too many expectations, but I still have my goals and my dreams. I can only say that I’m going to give my best in every shot”.

AIMING AT THE 200th SPANISH VICTORY ON THE DP WORLD TOUR

15 Spanish players target that very special goal, many of them with brilliant victories on their record, such as Pablo Larrazábal, Gonzalo Fernández-Castaño and Álvaro Quirós (seven each), Rafa Cabrera-Bello (four), Adrián Otaegui (three), Alejandro Cañizares and Jorge Campillo (two) and Nacho Elvira (one).

They will be joined by fellow professionals Pep Anglés, Pedro Oriol, Ángel Hidalgo, Sebastián García Rodríguez, Santiago Tarrio and Alfredo García Heredia.

Ángel Ayora, leading amateur from La Cañada, will complete the Spanish field, having finished second in the 2022 Spanish International Under-18, as well as the Spanish Amateur Championship and the Spanish Absolute Championship.

All those who want to enjoy this DP World Tour event also have the opportunity to acquire individual day tickets, weekend passes or season tickets at experiences.dpworldtour.com/edam or at Real Club Valderrama box office (credit or debit card payment required).

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 Valderrama, is sponsored by Estrella Damm and the Consejería de Turismo, Cultura y Deporte of the Junta de Andalucía, jointly funded by the EU and was declared Event of Exceptional Public Interest by the Government of Spain.

Kipp Popert, with the G4D Tour trophy (credit © Real Club Valderrama)

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Kipp Popert claimed a fourth G4D Tour title in dominant fashion, winning by five shots from Chris Biggins at the G4D @ Estrella Damm N.A. Andalucia Masters.

The World Number Two got to five under par after rounds of 68 and 69 - including the first hole in one in G4D Tour history on Monday - around the notoriously tricky Real Club Valderrama, in the penultimate event of the season.

American Biggins finished on level par, fighting back from a four over par opening round, with local favourite Juan Postigo Arce one shot further back in third place. 

The win is Popert’s fourth in the space of six months, adding to his successes at the G4D @ Betfred British Masters hosted by Danny Willett, G4D @ Porsche European Open and G4D @ BMW PGA Championship.

He said: “I’ve been telling all the members at my home course all year that I was looking forward to this one the most because the Tour pros say it’s the toughest test they have. Coming in here I had no idea what to expect, I just told myself not to get angry at any point – if I was in trouble, just get it back in play. 

“The course suits me as my wedge play is very strong. When I had a wedge in hand I had a lot of looks, so it was really nice to be under par. 

“I love checking leaderboards, but I only checked it on the 15th, the par three, I had just missed a six footer. I wish I has known the leaderboard before then. My friend Chris (Biggins) had told me at the start of the week that this was his course, and he was five under then. I thought, OK we might need to make a few birdies coming in.

“I got to 17, absolutely smoked a drive, a nine iron pin high, and then rolled in a big left to right putt.”

Popert will be joined next month at the G4D Tour Series Finale @ DP World Tour Championship by fellow winners from this season Mike Browne and Tommaso Perrino, with the remainder of the ten-player field to be confirmed on October 23, based on the WR4GD (World Rankings) published on October 19.

The Englishman said: “The final event is going to be brilliant. I’ve only been to Dubai once, for the tournament last year. I’ll go out a few weeks before and practice. It’s an awesome place to play golf, so I’m really looking forward to it.”

All those who want to enjoy this DP World Tour event also have the opportunity to acquire individual day tickets, weekend passes or season tickets at experiences.dpworldtour.com/edam or at Real Club Valderrama box office (credit or debit card payment required).

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 Valderrama, is sponsored by Estrella Damm and the Consejería de Turismo, Cultura y Deporte of the Junta de Andalucía, jointly funded by the EU and was declared Event of Exceptional Public Interest by the Government of Spain.

Álvaro Quirós, DP World Tour star in the second Beach Clean Up (credit © DP World Tour)

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Once again, the Estrella Damm N.A. Andalucía Masters shows that its scope goes far beyond the sport. In addition to hosting the penultimate tournament of the G4D Tour schedule, an event for the best disabled golfers in the world, on October 12 locals will be able to participate in a new edition of the Torreguadiaro Beach Clean Up, the successful initiative promoted by the DP World Tour with the invaluable support of San Roque City Council.

As an added attraction, Alvaro Quiros, the stellar Guadiaro-born golfer with seven DP World Tour titles, will help his neighbours in cleaning this beach so dear to him and will set an example to the volunteers and fans who will undoubtedly join him from 10 am.

Last year, more than a hundred volunteers, with a good number of local students, joined the efforts of Santiago Tarrío and Alejandro Cañizares, two of the best Spanish players in the event played at Real Club Valderrama.

This initiative is part of the DP World Tour's Green Drive programme, created to promote social and environmental responsibility and generate a positive impact in terms of sustainability. As is expected to be the case this year, last year’s clean-up had an immediate and visible effect thanks to the efforts of volunteers, who picked litter and micro plastics in this wonderful environment of the San Roque coastline.

Every year almost eight million tonnes of plastic waste go to the sea. This is extremely harmful to marine and human life, as it contributes to the reduction of biodiversity and the extinction of species. That’s why, for the second year, the Estrella Damm N.A. Andalucía Masters team organises this Beach Clean Up with only one goal in mind: collecting as much plastic and rubbish as possible to make the beach and sea cleaner and safer for everyone.

Once again, we would like to thank in advance the San Roque City Council, the International School of Sotogrande for bringing so many students, and the volunteers that last year were able to collect 230 kg of waste.

In addition to the help of Álvaro Quirós, the volunteers will be rewarded for their efforts and commitment with one day tickets for the Estrella Damm N.A. Andalucía Masters on Saturday or Sunday, so they can enjoy an unforgettable day at Real Club Valderrama, the best Spanish course according to the most reputable specialized rankings.

On the other hand, all those who want to enjoy this DP World Tour event also have the opportunity to acquire individual day tickets, weekend tickets or season tickets at experiences.dpworldtour.com/edam or at the Real Club Valderrama box office (credit or debit card payment required).

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 Valderrama, is sponsored by Estrella Damm and the Consejería de Turismo, Cultura y Deporte of the Junta de Andalucía, jointly funded by the EU and was declared Event of Exceptional Public Interest by the Government of Spain.

Juan Postigo teeing off at the Real Club Valderrama (credit © Real Club Valderrama)

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Juan Postigo has finished the first round of the G4D Tour in second place, five strokes behind leader Kipp Popert. The 26-year-old golfer from Santander is determined to fight for a first victory on the new WR4GD, featuring the top adaptive golfers in the world. This tournament will be a spectacular kick-off for next Thursday’s start of the Estrella Damm N.A. Andalucía Masters.

Postigo’s two over card of 73 confirms his solid performance throughout the season, with four top ten in five events. He is currently fourth in the WR4GD rankings.

England’s Kipp Popert, leads brilliantly after a superb round of 68 (-3) highlighted by the first hole-in-one ever made on the G4D Tour. Popert’s feat on the 6th is also the first hole-in-one scored on that hole in Estrella Damm Andalucía Masters history, as the other two aces were recorded on the 12th.

Popert is targeting a fourth G4D Tour victory at Valderrama. A ten-week premature baby, the Englishman was later diagnosed with a form of cerebral palsy called spastic diplegia that affects his lower body. In 2016 and 2018 he underwent complex surgeries to restructure his feet.

Ireland’s Brendan Lawlor, Sweden’s Rasmus Lia and Canadian Kurtis Barkley shot 74 (+3) to share third place, six strokes behind the leader.

This will be the last chance to earn one of the ten spots available for the circuit finale, the G4D Tour @ DP World Tour Championship in Dubai, to be held on November 18-19 prior to the DP World Tour Championship, the final tournament of the 2022 Rolex Series.

The G4D (Golf for the Disabled) Tour, launched in February to underscore the DP World Tour’s commitment to inclusivity in golf, hosts the world’s top-ranked players in adaptive golf (WR4GD), to highlight the inclusive nature of golf and encourage others to take up the game. Physical, sensory or intellectual diversity and a variety of genders and nationalities are defining features of the G4D Tour.

Enjoying the Estrella Damm N.A. Andalucia Masters is easy, since individual day tickets, weekend tickets, for season tickets for the Estrella Damm N.A. Andalucia Masters are on sale at experiences.dpworldtour.com/edam and at the box office at Real Club Valderrama (credit or debit card payment required).

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 Valderrama, is sponsored by Estrella Damm and the Consejería de Turismo, Cultura y Deporte of the Junta de Andalucía, jointly funded by the EU and was declared Event of Exceptional Public Interest by the Government of Spain.

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