McDowell last man standing at Valderrama
Aunque con muchas incógnitas por desvelar todavía, hoy se ha presentado al fin el Andalucía Valderrama Masters del que tanto se había rumoreado.
La fecha parece concretarse finalmente en la semana 44 (última de Octubre), tradicional del Volvo Masters y en la que este año se ha celebrado el Mundial Match Play. Ni siquiera el nombre del torneo parece del todo cierto a estas alturas, pues aunque en la convocatoria original y en algunas vallas que la Junta ha colocado ya en diversos puntos de la Costa del Sol se incluyera la sede en el nombre del torneo, en la nota de prensa posterior éste ya no aparecía en su denominación.
Sea como fuere, se confirma finalmente que será un torneo del circuito europeo por lo que el primer y último torneo del mismo en tierras europeas se celebrarán en Andalucía (Open de Andalucía en el Parador en Marzo). Después vendrán los torneos en Asia y finalmente el torneo final de Dubaí (que por ahora contra pronostico, parece resistir al menos en 2010). El montante de premios se fija en 3 millones de euros, cantidad nada despreciable con los tiempo que corren, pero alejada de los mayores torneos de la temporada. No será pues un torneo de maestros como tal, aunque el nombre “masters” se mantenga, y seguramente serán de 80 a 100 jugadores con corte, aunque nada se ha precisado en este sentido. El acuerdo se indica que será “al menos” para cinco años.
Con todo así, y hasta que se desvele de una vez el calendario para 2010, todo indica que podríamos tener en España hasta 7 torneos del circuito europeo, dado que Mallorca recupera su prueba, uniéndose a Castellón, Madrid, (que parece moverse a Mayo) y los tres en Andalucía (que pueden ser 4 si el Open de España se viene a Sevilla). De la fecha del Volvo Mundial Match Play nada se sabe con certeza pero podría quedar fijado en la primera semana de Octubre.
En definitiva una gran noticia para España y para Andalucía en particular, de la que nos alegramos enormemente por todo lo que significa para el golf en nuestro país. Loable el esfuerzo de la Junta de Andalucía, aunque cuestionable la estrategia de mantener tres torneos en su territorio en lugar de un gran evento “de bandera” como siempre se había sugerido. En todo caso estamos seguros de que Valderrama estará como siempre a la altura y el evento ayudará vender la excelencia del golf en el sur de España.
A small tribute to McDowell
Graeme McDowell is staying at Finca Cortesín to play the Andalucía Valderrama Masters from Thursday and said today:
“Forgotten how much I love Valderrama (love to hate it maybe??). Such a unique golf course requiring precision and patience. Great condition.”
We thought it was a great excuse to publish our pictures of his Albatross to the Valderrama’s 17th during the 2007 Volvo Masters as our small tribute for his great season and incredible work during the past Ryder Cup. We were lucky enough to be just a meter away from him then and enjoyed live one of those unforgettable golf moments.
Tickets on sale for Andalucia Valderrama Masters
Although Golf in Spain will not be responsible for the marketing and coordination of advance tickets sales for the event– as we were for the last six tournaments held at Valderrama, we have however, reached an agreement with the organisers to sell tickets for the Andalucía Valderrama Masters, to be held from 28 to 31 October at the renowned Sotogrande course.
The discounts available are lower than in previous years, but tickets purchased in advance will be €2 cheaper for single-day passes (€13 Thursday and Friday; €28 Saturday and Sunday); and €5 for weekly tickets (€70). There are no special prices for seniors but entry remains free for children under 12 accompanied by an adult.
Using our online bookings system, you will be able to reserve and pay for your tickets automatically, obtaining a voucher which tournament staff at the golf course entrance will exchange for entry to the tournament. For this reason, we will not be able to accept refunds or changes from 24 October.
Packs with hotel + tickets are also available from 2 to 7 days.
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.
Ryder hype runneth over
We thought this was the perfect time to reproduce, courtesy of An Oz in Spain, the vision of an Australian about the Ryder Cup.
What the other 89 per cent think…
By PEDRO BOLICHERO of OzinSpain.com
IT’S MID-AUTUMN – an even year – and that means billions of golf fans around the universe are sitting in front of their TV screens, enthralled by the action in the “third biggest sporting event in the world”. Yeah, sure.
There is no doubt the Ryder Cup is a fascinating sporting spectacle, providing spectators with exceptional golf from many of the world’s finest players – gripping matches where the determination and passion to win is patent (just check out any old news reel of Severiano Ballesteros).
But for the organisers and jingoistic media commentators and press to continue harping on about the Cup only being surpassed by the Olympics and soccer World Cup in status is nonsense and an insult to the vast majority of the world’s population who have no “nationalist” interest in the event.
In fact, golf fans outside Europe and the US would, in the main, be more inclined to rate the four majors as the premier golf events, ahead of the Ryder Cup and, certainly, the Presidents Cup, which pits the US against a Rest of the World combination (minus the Europeans) in every non-Ryder Cup year.
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Autumn Golf Breaks in Spain (second edition)
We have just released some additional suggestions for golf breaks to Spain this autumn in Costa del Sol, Cadiz, Huelva, Almeria and Costa Brava as well as some new destinations. You can read it here if you have not received it.
Today we also added a new package with a 4×3 and 7×6 offer at the Silken Park Hotel San Jorge, set in a beautiful location above two coves filled with crystal-clear water and surrounded by pines at Calonge-Platja d’Aro in the Costa Brava.
Autumn Golf Breaks in Spain (second edition)
We have just released some additional suggestions for golf breaks to Spain this autumn in Costa del Sol, Cadiz, Huelva, Almeria and Costa Brava as well as some new destinations. You can read it here if you have not received it.
Today we also added a new package with a 4×3 and 7×6 offer at the Silken Park Hotel San Jorge, set in a beautiful location above two coves filled with crystal-clear water and surrounded by pines at Calonge-Platja d’Aro in the Costa Brava.
New golf holiday packs
We’ve just added some new packages to our catalogue: Vincci Canela Golf in Huelva, the spanish algarve is 40 minutes from Faro; Mar Menor Golf Experience in Intercontinental, next what used to be Polaris Golf Courses and after Obama’s wife visit, a package at the exclusive Villa Padierna. We’ve also just added (still updating) the Alhama Signature Golf in Murcia golf course profile.
Andalucia Valderrama Masters confirmed
A confirmed field size of 96 players will be back to Valderrama in October playing for a first prize of €500,000 from a €3 million prize fund in the inaugural Andalucía Valderrama Masters from October 28-31.
The field includes five invites and four players from the Spanish Order of Merit and means the cut will see the top 50 players, and those tied for 50th place, complete the final two rounds.
The spectacular Robert Trent Jones Snr layout has provided the backdrop for some of the most thrilling moments in golfing history, including Europe’s Ryder Cup triumph in 1997, when Colin Montgomerie, this year’s European Captain, provided the vital half point in his singles match against Scott Hoch, which saw Europe win 14½-13½.
After some rumours about the possibility of the event being postponed to 2011, Valderrama will be back to the European Tour the last week of October, meaning a great chance for a golf holiday to Spain that same week.
Improved quote page
We published some improvements to our site including a new and more detailed proposal page where clients see their quotes and confirmed bookings. The new system offers clearer information, how-to-get-to maps and many other details. More to come next week, including an improved map of courses with tee times prices.
