Carlota Ciganda, with a lawyer in the bag

Spanish caddies are becoming increasingly prestigious in the world of golf. Those past times have already been forgotten when when Spanish golfers went abroad they did so accompanied by family members or by some colleagues from their club, who were in charge of bringing them their clubs. Today, many of the squires are professionals like themselves and have additional college preparation.

In this way, Spanish caddies are increasingly sought after and are already breaking the border barrier to also serve stars from other countries. Thus, Pello Iguarán accompanies Francesco Molinari and together with him he won the British Open; Íñigo Urquizu to the Frenchman Mike Lorenzo-Vera; Alberto Calvo to the Italian Guido Migliozzi or Álvaro Alonso to the Mexican Gaby López on the LPGA.

But before Alonso decided to make a career in the women’s circuit, he already had a precedent: Javier Urquizu. Iñigo’s brother and Carlota Ciganda’s childhood friend, he spent four years in the service of the Navarrese all over the planet, until his body told him enough. “Life in tournaments is very hard, you are abroad all year, traveling every week and the competition burns a lot, no matter how good a relationship you have with your player,” explains the Basque, who in mutual agreement with the Pamplona decided to put end to your relationship. “I already had a girlfriend, my law studies and the need for job stability, so I decided to join my parents’ law firm in 2017.”

In any case, as the bug is never lost, when Carlota suggested that he take it back on time this year, he didn’t think twice. “As her usual caddy, Terry McNamara, she couldn’t travel to Asia she told me if I could go with her for a couple of weeks and it went quite well for us; then they left him and in the process of looking for one for the remainder of the season, he suggested that I repeat this in the summer, which I gladly accepted », he acknowledges with a big smile.

In this time they will share Evian, Olympic Games, Scotland, British Open and Solheim Cup before returning to the routine of the office. Quite a dream that you have to thank your bosses. “If it hadn’t been a family job it would have been impossible, but my parents are great fans (his mother was president of the Guipuzcoana Federation and his father is a member of the Spanish Assembly) and they were the first to be happy and encouraged me to accept the challenge. Of course, while continuing to fulfill their professional obligations to clients. «I take my computer to tournaments and in the afternoons I dedicate myself to getting my work done; then, when I return in September, I will have to return to my office routine and I will have to go to court, “he concludes with some regret.

His immediate appointment from this Wednesday is in Tokyo, where Ciganda, who started very well, is one of the medal favorites after some technical adjustments he made in Pamplona in recent days. «They are my second Games and it is an honor to be able to represent Spain. Whenever Azahara Muñoz and I play together, we give everything and we have all the options open, because we motivate each other on these occasions, “he pointed out.

The Malaga woman, for her part, endorses her opinions: «We have been together since we were little, first in the national teams and then in the university and in the LPGA. In fact, the prospect of playing with Carlota has given me wings and these days I have trained very well after a not very good campaign. I’m very excited, ”she explains. The Korda sisters, Shanhan Feng, Lydia Ko, Lexi Tompson, Jin Young Ko or Inbee Park are some of the players to beat.

Carlota Ciganda is fourth to two strokes of the Swedish Sagstrom. Muñoz is seventh with one more hit. The competition is reduced to three days due to the expected heat.