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Valderrama, with public and Jon Rahm, but without Sergio García

Since it returned as a fixed appointment to the European Tour calendar in 2017, those responsible for the Estrella Damm NA Andalusia Masters They have never hidden that they aspire to turn the Valderrama event, one of the sanctuaries of world golf, into one of the most powerful on the circuit.

The next edition (from October 14 to 17) is about to fall and its coming-out, held this Thursday in the Jardin de Arzábal, annexed to the Reina Sofía Museum in Madrid, the president of the club, Nuno Alberto de Brito e Cunha, He was optimistic about those aspirations despite the huge stone in the path of the pandemic. “This tournament has to go further. There is no reason why golf does not have a world circuit and I think we are going to do that because of the latest news in the relationship between the European Tour and the PGA. I think there are going to be very big tournaments in Europe and I would bet that Valderrama will be in the front row, “he launched. Before the health crisis, it was committed to turning it into a Rolex Series event in the medium term, the highest category in Europe, but the new collaboration strategy between the two great circuits of the golf planet could bring new perspectives.

For now, what is clear is that the poster will be powerful, especially due to the confirmed presence of Jon Rahm, world number one and current US Open champion. Everything indicates that he will not accompany him in Cádiz lands Sergio garcia. The reason is that Borriol’s wants to stay among the top 50 in the world ranking (currently he is 43rd) to guarantee himself being able to play the four majors next season. And with that objective in mind, the logical decision is that Valderrama’s week will play the CJ Cup in Las Vegas (USA), a no-cut tournament that distributes many more points and money than the Andalucía Masters. It is also “complicated”, in the words of José María Zamora, director of European Tour Tournaments, the confirmation of Miguel Ángel Jiménez, who has sponsorship commitments to attend on those dates. Yes it will be with Rahm the Canarian Rafa Cabrera Bello, who recently lost his full PGA card and could be seen more in Europe next season.

Regarding the aspect that Valderrama will present, Brito e Cunha was blunt: “It is in fantastic condition. I think I have never seen it so well. It will be a first-rate venue. We want it to be tough but also fair, that the good blow be rewarded “. The president valued as “very important” the fact of being able to count on Rahm. “We are delighted. Valderrama is a great campaign and it will be a difficult test”, seconded Jaime Salaverri, vice president of the Royal Spanish Golf Federation. The tournament will deliver three million euros in prizes and 4,250 for the Race to Dubai. Registration will be open until next day 30, so José María Zamora hopes to “add another player from the Ryder”. “The change of dates (in 2020 it was played in September), will make the rough be higher and the greens somewhat softer, “he said about the state of the field. “Javier (Reviriego, general manager) and Nuno (Brito e Cunha) always make it more difficult than I want, “he joked.

“Andalusia is once again in the center of golf in Europe. It is a very important year after how bad we have been. We want to give a feeling of normality. We are working on the possibility of having an audience,” said Manuel Pablo Muñoz, secretary General of Tourism of the Junta de Andalucía. In that sense, Zamora pointed out that, “by regulation”, they can admit 2,000 fans per day, but the intention is for there to be 10,000: “I don’t think we’ll get there, but by asking for that, maybe we’ll get something less. It is a very large site and therefore safe. “

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