Preview of the Andalucía Valderrama Masters
The Field
Some of the best players on the European tour will be playing this week at the Andalucía Valderrama Masters in Spain, which runs from Thursday 28 October to Sunday 31 October. The players will be battling
for a three million euro purse and a 500,000 euro first prize.
Some of the notables in this week’s field include: Martin Kaymer, Graeme McDowell, Ross Fisher, Peter Hanson, Miguel Angel Jimenez, the Molinari brothers, as well as Spaniards Sergio Garcia and Jose Maria
Olazabal.
It now appears as though last week’s tour winner, Matteo Manassero, will not be able to play in the event. There were some doubts about his participation in this week’s event due to his preoccupation with
acquiring a visitor’s visa to China for next week’s HSBC Championship in Shanghai, and he confirmed Tuesday afternoon he couldn't play in Spain as a result.
Martin Kaymer, currently ranked third in the world, hopes to overtake Tiger this week as the number one golfer in the world. Kaymer must win or at least tie for second (with just one other player) to accomplish
this feat. The 25-year-old has had an incredible season, especially of late, winning his last three European tour starts. Kaymer currently sits at the top of the Race to Dubai ranking by just under than six million euros. With only four events left until the
Dubai Championship Kaymer’s nearest challenger, McDowell, must begin to make up ground.
McDowell’s most recent European tour event was the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship where he finished 17th at six-under par, far behind Kaymer’s winning aggregate of 17-under. McDowell has two professional
wins this season. One most notably came at the U.S. Open in June and another shortly before on the European tour at the Celtic Manor Wales Open. His play of recent has been streaky with a poor showing at the PGA Grand Slam of Golf but a good showing at the
Ryder Cup. He is ranked number 13 in the world.
Garcia’s second event
Sergio Garcia will be playing in his second event since his return from his two-month hiatus. Garcia missed the cut shooting rounds of 71 and 73 at last week’s Castello Masters and hopes to redeem himself
this week.
The 30-year-old Spaniard conceded that the erratic play demonstrated in last week’s event was mostly due to nerves. Garcia told reporters after his second round, “It was pretty much what I deserved,” adding,
“I didn’t play that great. I felt a bit nervous at times, just at playing again.”
Most likely Garcia will be more settled at this week’s event. One, he will be playing in his second event so the novelty of competition will have at least partially worn off. Second, he won’t be playing
in his hometown of Valencia where last week’s Castello Masters was played.
The Course
The par 71, 6,988 yard course hosting this week’s Andalucía Valderrama Masters has a strong history on the European tour. It has been the host venue of 16 Volvo Masters as well as the 1997 Ryder Cup. One
of its key features is the par-five 17th which is reachable in two but players must negotiate the water hazard that borders the front of the green. Look for this hole to be the deciding factor come Sunday afternoon.
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