European Tour
A chat with Chema Olazabal
A few days ago José María Olazábal competed in the Lacoste Promesas at La Sella Golf Resort . The two time champion of the Augusta Masters, who holds more than 35 international titles, played in the Ryder Cup six times and who, as captain in 2012, engineered the so-called ‘miracle of Medinah’, took time out to chat to María Acacia Lopéz Bachiller about ‘the divine and the human.’
“Golf’s critics and stigmas don’t bother me, each to his own, and as to what people end up doing, only time will tell” Photo courtesy of Jorge Andreu
He came ninth in the last tournament he competed in, the Hassan II Golf Trophy in Morocco (29/03/15), and shot a round of 71 in the second round of the Masters (10/04/15). “I put in a good performance in Morocco, but on the first day at Augusta it all unraveled. After the Masters, I felt quite stiff, I did some training the following Monday and went to the Spanish Open with reservations. I couldn’t play. I came home, started to see several doctors, had therapy… And here I am taking anti-inflammatories and steroids, unable to do anything. If I’m still it doesn’t bother me but when I try to move around, my shoulders, groin, abductor muscles and calves ache. It was the same thing that happened to me during the US Open in 2007: overnight my joints started to ache and I couldn’t move. There’s no need to keep going over and over it, what happened happened. It’s annoying, without a doubt, being at home not being able to move or live a vaguely normal life- it’s pretty tough. But just as last time it happened and I was able to bounce back from it, it could well be the case this time too. They say that these things come in waves, cycles… Right now I’ve got to be optimistic and be patient- it’s a slow process, that will take around five or six months. It’s the same old story, but what can you do?
Jimenez named golfer of the month
The Spaniard made it a Hong Kong hat-trick with his one stroke win over Sweden’s Fredrik Andersson Hed, adding to the titles he won at Fanling in 2005 and 2008, and in doing so became the oldest winner in European Tour history at 48 years and 318 days, beating the previous record held by Irishman Des Smyth who was 48 years and 34 days when he won the 2001 Madeira Islands Open.
The Race to Dubai European Tour Golfer of the Month Panel, which comprises members of the Association of Golf Writers as well as commentators from television and radio, faced arguably their toughest decision in the history of the award.
Indeed Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy, whose stunning victory in the DP World Tour Championship, Dubai completed his coronation as European Number One; Englishman Ian Poulter, who won his second World Golf Championship in style at the WGC-HSBC Champions in China; and Italian Matteo Manassero, who became the first teenager in European Tour history to win three times following his triumph in the Barclays Singapore Open, all earned votes from the panel in a lively debate.
Also recognised were; Luke Donald for his triumph in the Dunlop Phoenix tournament in Japan; Martin Kaymer for his win in the Nedbank Golf Challenge; Graeme McDowell for his success in the World Challenge presented by Northwestern Mutual; and Henrik Stenson for his victory in the SA Open Championship, his first European Tour triumph for five years. But, in the end, it was Jiménez who held sway.
“When you look at the list of candidates for the November award it not only illustrates how hard a decision it was to make, but also just how healthy European Tour golf is at the moment,” said Michael Harris, the editor of Golf Monthly, and a member of the nine-strong panel.
“Every single one of them had a legitimate claim but in the end Miguel Angel Jiménez proved just too hard to resist. To win a tournament on The European Tour, given the growing standard out there, is hard enough at the best of times, but to do it at almost 49 years of age is remarkable.
“But Miguel is just that, remarkable. He is an entertainer and has such an infectious love of life and golf that I know a lot of people have been inspired to take up the game just by watching the fun he has on the course. His win in Hong Kong against a high-quality field was fantastic and, as a result, he is a worthy winner of the award for November.”
Advanced ticket sales now open for the Volvo World Match Play
Volvo World Match Play “returns” to Golf in Spain. After 6 years of organising the Volvo Masters and the first Volvo World Match Play celebrated in 2009, we’re happy to announce that we’re again responsables for the advanced ticket sale for one of the biggest golf events celebrated in Spain.
17th to 20th May at Finca Cortesín.
Advanced ticket prices
- Adult Thursday: 10€. (Gate price: 15€).
- Adult Friday, Saturday or Sunday: 20€ per day. (Gate price: 25€ per day).
- Adult Season: 50€. (Gate price: 75€).
Special prices for seniors over 65. Children under the age of 12 free when entering with a paying adult.
Accomodation Packages
Exclusive package at Hotel Elba Estepona 5*, 7 nights + weekly tickets + 2 green fees per person from 555€ pp.
Economic package at Albayt Resort Apartments, 7 nights + weekly tickets from 225€ pp.
Don’t miss this opportunity of seing some of the best players in a unique course.
For more information, visit our web page, or call 0034 952 47 48 48.
Poulter to defend title at the Volvo World Match Play Championship
Defending Champion, Ian Poulter, has confirmed he will defend his title at the 2012 Volvo World Match Play Championship at Finca Cortesín, Spain, from May 17-20, 2012. The 2012 Championship will once again attract the world’s best golfers with the final 24 man field to be announced in the weeks after the conclusion of the US Masters.
The final field of the 47th edition of this historic tournament looks set to match the unprecedented strength of the 2011 Championship. Repeating last year’s successfully amended format, on arrival at Finca Cortesín the players will be divided into eight groups of three players to play in a round-robin group format on Thursday and Friday to decide which 16 players progress to Saturday’s knock-out stage with the semi-finals and final played on Sunday.
Tickets Volvo World Match Play Championship
Advance ticket sales “returns” this year to Golf in Spain, check out the special reduced advanced prices.
We’ve also published two initial options with accommodation at Hotel Elba Estepona 5* and Hotel Don Agustín 2*. More to come in the following days.
Spain’s elusive holy grail
Unfinished business at Valderrama
SEVE BALLESTROS went close in 1988. The late Spanish star finished second two shots behind Nick Faldo in the inaugural Volvo Masters at Valderrama.
Six years later, he was again second, a bogey on the last hole leaving him one short of Bernhard Langer’s winning score and level with Vijay Singh. Miguel Ángel Jiménez was fourth that same year, having opened with a six-under 65 that included the first albatross carded in competition on Valderrama’s notorious 17th hole. Continue reading
Jiménez woos Tiger with food and wine…
…but Woods’ private jet remains in Florida as Open de Andalucía gets underway
THEY WERE CHATTING at the Dubai Desert Classic in February when Miguel Ángel Jiménez popped the question to Tiger Woods: would he like to come and play in the Open de Andalucía on the Costa del Sol? Continue reading
Sergio Garcia back to golf at the Castello Masters
Any golfer that had the opportunity of watching live on a prime position, last week’s Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor would likely be desperate to play golf again. We are not sure if this is the case of Sergio Garcia, but the Castello Masters Costa Azahar that will be held at Sergio’s home “Club del Mediterraneo” from October 21st to 24th has confirmed that him as well as Jose María Olazabal will play it.
This will mean the return of Sergio to the competition on an event that will likely also benefit from the a good field coming to Valderrama the following week, something which is still slightly in the air.
