Valderrama Masters
Sunday, October 30, 2011
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| Sergio Garcia wins Andalucia Masters |
SERGIO GARCÍA, 71 today. Total 278 (-6) - Winner of the Andalucía Masters:
"I'm out of words. Miguel, he fought so hard. and he had some good chances coming in. 17 for eagle and 18, for birdie. We hung in there tough. I wasn't feeling as good as in the last 13 days, but we hung in and managed to pull through. It's very, very special to win in Valderrama. I've had so much history here, and unfortunately it wasn't as good as this until now.
I got a great three on 14 and on 15. Then on 16 I hit a bad tee shot, and I just figured that I could get it into that left bunker and hopefully get up and down, which I did. I had heard a roar and I imagined that Miguel had made birdie on 16, so when I made my putt I thought, "well, a 2 shot lead" but then I heard another roar on 17. he must have played an unbelievable second shot. I managed to make a great 5 on 17. Miguel missed his eagle, so on 18 I had a 1 shot lead, and we decided to play a little more conservative and make sure we hit the fairway.
I've been in that situation probably 3 or 4 times on this course, so I knew that it wasn't easy, but I believed in my abilities. and the chip was just amazing. I thought it was going to go in. I hit a good second shot - I just pulled it two yards. To be able to hit the chip I hit there and roll that putt in with the pressure and everything, was nice.
Obviously the wins are great, but the year's been very positive and that's what I'm most excited about. Ryder Cup years are always special for me, so hopefully we can make that team.
I knew that I had game, because I had it before, but obviously, when your head is not in the right spot it doesn't matter how much game you have. your muscles won't listen.
I'm just happy with my year. We all know how difficult golf is. This is welcome whenever it comes. you can't be greedy. I'm happy it came at the end of the season. If it would have com earlier it would have been great, but it's better at the end of the season that not at all. This is a working process, I'll keep working on it, and trying hard and enjoying it."
MIGUEL ANGEL JIMENEZ, 70 today. Total 279 (-5) Runner-up:
"Disappointed. I've played great golf all week but the only birdies I made were gimmies. I hit the ball beautifully, but my putting wasn't half decent.
Being second at Valderrama will make me go up the rankings and play the majors next year, that's good on the long run, but for me the only important thing this week was to win in front of my home crowd, my family, my neighbours, my friends. so right now I'm disappointed.
Congratulations to Sergio for his back-to-back wins. Yesterday we played together and he deserves it, because he is playing great.
Finally a Spaniard has won in Valderrama. This morning I told Sergio: 'If I'm not the winner I hope you win. and it happened'."
MARTIN KAYMER, 71 (par):
"I had a few ups and downs on the first nine, two bogeys on par threes, but fought back on the back nine"
GRAEME McDOWELL, 73 (+2):
"It was hard to control my wedge play, and it was hard to get the ball close to the hole. I don't know whether I'm happy or disappointed with my 2 over. Fantastic score for Ramsay!"
After the End of the First Day of the Valderrama Masters, Richie Ramsey Leads, With Local Hero Sergio Garcia Just Five Shots Behind.
Quotes from the players
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| Jimenez |
RICHIE RAMSAY, 65 (-6)
"Valderrama is the kind of course that suits me. It's a shot maker's course, you need to manoeuvre the ball right to left or left to right, sometimes you need the low shot or the high one, and I feel comfortable doing that. You need to hit it straight out there, and that's my game, and to control the spin a lot on 3/4shotswhich I enjoy doing. This course is a good challenge for me. You need to play it shot by shot, and that's all I did.
We worked out a good game plan with my caddie about where to miss it, how to play it with the wind. The game plan was good, and the short game was good and I holed a few putts.
My chipping was really good today, but I've been working on that, and it's nice to see the hard work pay off.
I started smiling when the wind started to get up on 11 because it helped me knock it on the green in two and I made eagle there and I new that if I could finish well, particularly the last 3 holes which are tough, with the wind picking up, my score would be good. I was a bit unlucky on 17, bit it's a tough hole.
Its always nice to have a 65 around a classic course like Valderrama because it's had Ryder Cup and so many great champions. to shoot 65 on a golf course you love is always fantastic.
I played well the last 4 weeks, and I did well at Sergio's tournament so I feel real confident with my game."
SERGIO GARCÍA, 70 (-1):
It was a tough day out there. The course was soft because of the rain, but with this amount of wind Valderrama is always tough. A bit of a shame because I got to 4 under after 11, but I guess it was a good round. We had a bit of fortune on 11 with a chip-in and then we got a little bit unfortunate on 13 and 17 with the drives. They were actually good shots, but in Valderrama shots need not only to be good but on the perfect spot. All in all, shooting under par on this course is never a bad thing
As a Spaniard it's always special to play in front of your home crowd."
My three wins on the PGA Tour have been great, they have given me the feeling of playing at a very high level. I'm particularly happy with the way I handled pressure and coping with the big crowds.
MARTIN KAYMER, 71 (par):
"I had a few ups and downs on the first nine, two bogeys on par threes, but fought back on the back nine"
GRAEME McDOWELL, 73 (+2)
"It was hard to control my wedge play, and it was hard to get the ball close to the hole. I don't know whether I'm happy or disappointed with my 2 over. Fantastic score for Ramsay!"
The world number one and two will lead the Volvo World Match Play Championship held at the Finca Cortesin Golf Resort (from 16 - 22 May)
Martin Kaymer and Lee Westwood, world number one and two respectively, will lead the Volvo World Match Play Championship to be held from 19 to 22 May at the Finca Cortesin Golf Resort. The first 13 qualifiers have all accepted their invitation to play in this prestigious tournament.
The announcement that the world’s top players would be participating was made yesterday during a press conference given by Antonia Morera (Mayoress of Casares), Per Ericsson (President and Chief Advisor of Volvo Event Management), German Lopez Madrid (President of Volvo Spain), Guy Kinnings (Director of IMG Golf EMEA), Angel Gallardo (Vice President of Circuito Europeo) and Jose Canales (President of the board of the Andalusian Federation of Professional Golfers).
The Volvo World Match Play tournament is shaping up to be one of this season’s major contests. This year qualifiers include Rory McIilroy (2nd in Abu Dabi) and Paul Casey (winner of Volvo Golf Champions) along with Paul Lawrie and Jonan Edfors, who in the recent Andalusian Open were placed 1st and 2nd respectively.
The 2010 Dubai World Championship winner, Robert Karlsson, will also be taking part, joined by the top four from the Dubai 2010 series: winner Martin Kaymer, Lee Westwood, Ian Poulter and Francesco Molinari. Pre-qualified for the event are major title winners Graeme McDowell and Young-Eun Yang; Ross Fisher, the defending champion; and winner of the 2008 Volvo Masters, Soren Kjeldsen.
The format changes decided by Volvo, IMG and the European Circuit seem to have been well received by the players; to date, the 13 qualifiers have all confirmed they will be participating. When they arrive at Finca Cortesin in May, they will be divided into eight groups of three (in accordance with their world ranking) and will play against each other on Thursday and Friday. Saturday will see the last 16 and quarterfinals take place, with Sunday hosting the semi-finals and the finals.
For Martin Kaymer, the world number one, it will be the first tournament he’s played on European soil this season. “I can’t wait to get back to Spain, a country I love, to take part in the Volvo World Match Play, where hopefully I’ll do better than I did on my 2009 debut. I played well in the Accenture and so I’m really excited to be competing in Match Play again. It’s a style of competition that I enjoy very much and so I hope my good form continues. I’m also excited about returning and making the most of the magnificent Finca Cortesin hotel and its excellent services.
For Lee Westwood, world number 2 and champion of the 2000 World Match Play, it will also be his second trip to Finca Cortesin: “I played here in 2009 and remember that the hotel and its grounds were fantastic. As well as that, the new format of the tournament makes things much more interesting. With 24 of the world’s best players, this year sees the very highest level of competition and brings honour to the European Circuit.
This new spring date means that there are two major European events, back to back, with a great portion of points and prizes, valuable for the Dubai series and the world rankings.”
The first European titles that Westwood won were the 1996 Volvo Scandinavian Masters and the Volvo Masters the following year. The Volvo World Match Play Championship will be the 124th professional golf event sponsored by the company – a record amount of investment in this sport.
Per Ericsson, president and advisor of Volvo Golf Event Management, said: “We’re halfway through the qualification process and we already have various world class players participating. It’s pleasing to see that the changes we’ve introduced to this historic championship are only going to improve it, and we are equally pleased to see that the players have welcomed them positively.
The general manager of Finca Cortesin, Vincente Rubio, said, “We eagerly await the arrival of the players in May. All the preparations are running smoothly and so all the players, who seemed very satisfied in 2009, will find everything better this year. As well as being more convenient for the players, the change of dates is also great news for Finca Cortesin, which will be able to show off its marvellous grounds and facilities to the world in the Spanish springtime sun.
Guy Kinnings, chief advisor at IMG Golf, EMEA, said: “During all these years, I’ve been witness to many changes intended to improve and enhance this great event, which was founded in 1964 by Mark McCormack. Judging by the quality of the participants this year, and the fact that all the invited players have decided to attend, we are convinced that the changes to the format have been well received. In collaboration with our partners, Volvo, Finca Cortesin and the European Circuit, we hope to host a thrilling new edition of the Volvo World Match Play Championship.
The mayoress of Casares, Antonia Morera said: “Once again, I’d like to thank and congratulate Volvo, IMG and especially Finca Cortesin for their efforts in ensuring that this world championship takes place in the town of Casares. I would like to pass on the sense of pride felt by the residents that such an important competition is held in our town, bringing such great economic advantages to the area.
2011 Qualification System:
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Defending champion: Ross Fisher
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Winner of the Volvo Open China 2010: Yeng-Eun Yang
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The first two players (not not already qualified) from the Andalusia Valderrama Masters 2010: Graeme McDowell and Soren Kjeldsen.
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The first player (not already qualified) from the Dubai World Championship 2010: Robert Karlsson
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The first four players (not already qualified) from the end of the Dubai Series 2010: Martin Kaymer, Lee Westwood, Ian Poulter and Francesco Molinari.
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The first player (not already qualified) for the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship 2011: Rory McIIroy
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The first player (not already qualified) from the Volvo Golf Championship 2011: Paul Casey
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The first two players (not already qualified) from the Andalusian Open 2011: Paul Lawrie and Johan Edfors.
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The highest ranked player (not already qualified) at the end of the 2011 Masters, from each of the following continents:
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Europe
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Africa/Middle East
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USA
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South America
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Asia (includes China, South East Asia, India, Japan and Korea)
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Australasia (includes Australia, Fiji and New Zealand)
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The first player (not already qualified) from the world rankings at the end of the 2011 Masters.
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The first two players (not already qualified) from the 2011 Dubai Series at the end of the 2011 Masters.
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The first player (not already qualified) from the China Volvo Open 2011.
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A wildcard entry selected from the world top 50 at the end of the 2011 Masters.
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