Mav's European & Challenge Tour Weekly Edition - Andalucia Masters

First topic message reminder :

European Tour News:

So to start this week, there are many congratulations on offer to fans favourites, Sergio Garcia and Luke Donald.

Sergio romping home to victory on his home track, a course that he knows probably better than the back of his hand considering he was the club champion there at the tender age of 12, now that’s talent. Regardless of this nothing can be taken away from his win the biggest winning margin on the ET this year, and he had to beat the field I front of him and beat them he did.

Luke doing what champions do, standing on the 9th tee in the final round hadn’t been playing to well all week, out of the running for the win of the event and money list. Dug deep pulled out a World No1 and for want of a better word he “smashed” it. Leaving not only Webb in his wake but also stamping his authority on world golf showing he has the bottle to do it when it counts. Now let’s hope “Dim” Finchem and his cronies don’t find some way of awarding the player of the year award to an American, but how they are trying!

Announcement:
Kwini beat me to it this week on the other thread that is currently running.

The European Tour’s first true ‘tournament of champions’ is now confirmed and will take place from 19th – 22nd January 2012. The Venue is The Fancourt Links in South Africa’s.
The Volvo Golf Champions will be the first solely-sanctioned European Tour event of 2012 and will offer the most valuable purse ever seen on the African continent.

The Champions event is solely open only to European Tour players that have won an event on the previous year’s European Tour Schedule (so for 2012, all winners from 2011 qualify) and to current Tour Members with ten or more European Tour wins to their name e.g. Monty, Olazabal etc. There will be a sizeable amount of money on offer to the field. There should also be a sizeable amount of OGWR points on offer from first to last place hopefully PD nearer the time will be able to give us an idea of exactly how many, and with only something like a dozen events left to qualify for this there is incentive for many player to make the final cut for it.

So to the Event this Week - Andalucía Masters

This week sees the return to the Andalucía Masters at Valderamma a spot that is littered in the history of the ET, what with it being Seve’s Ryder Cup captaincy win on his home soil. A course that has seen many of not only Europe’s, but some of golf’s top names win with the like of Norman et al in years past.

This weeks defending champ GMac will be hoping the Spanish sun stirs his golf to some sort of form that has been clearly lacking all year since his switch to the PGA tour.

1. Not really much to say about this event really in recent years, it used to be after the PGA the big one to win as in was the season Finale but since the inception of the RTD it’s now seemingly another event. It has even lost a little of its prestige, the only real standout names in the field on the OGWR, McDowell, Kaymer and Rose. Then I guess when you consider the event the PGA tour now are running in the same week it’s not a huge surprise.

2. Justin Rose is returning to the ET this week at the scene of one of his most important victories. Rose won the season-ending Volvo Masters at Valderrama in 2007 winning what was a 3 way play-off with Simon Dyson and Søren Kjeldsen, the reason for the wins importance? It was the win that sealed his place at the top of the ET order of merit that year.

3. Valderrama is situated in Sotogrande, Andalucía. The course measures at 6988 yards and comes in at a par 71. The standout hole down the stretch if things get tight at the top will be the Par 5 17th. Not a long Par 5 at just 536 yards; however the green is not overly large and you have to fly it all the way to carry the water hazard to a green which slopes all back towards the water and they have been known to shave the approach which means a lot of balls roll back of the surface into the water.

Challenge Tour

Nothing to report on the challenge tour this week as were still in break period as everyone gets ready for the Challenge Tours grand final event in November where we’ll see cards one, others missing out by the skin of their teeth. All in all it should be an exciting end to the CT season and one that’s been standout for British players with so many in the top 25 for the money race.


*MODs the weekly sticky if you wouldn't mind and removing last weeks Update thanks

kwini ... what's all the more remarkable about their US Amateur wins is that neither is the product of the american college system.

i agree that although we have had a few stuttering scottish pros that have almost hit the bigish time since monty- ramsey looks the real deal

gael,
I would think not being US "Collegians" would help insulate themselves from any US media hype. Sergio almost made it too, his quarter-final match with Kuchar the stuff of legends, sadly defeated by Hank Kuenhe in the semi's who must have enjoyed a rare sober week.

The English guys are making a move, must be better conditions today as the scoring seems much lower.

But the 'old' Spanish guard is making a move as well. Sergio in the lead!!
I can see the media going a bit nuts about him if he wins 2 in a row...
Wind is down today so scores look a bit better...

More misery for McDowell . . . . .

Wonder if Doon was just having a wee (seeing as it's from him!) dig,
"English guys making a move, must be better conditions" . . . . . . !!

The Mechanic is in overdrive!

Indeed, that's a shocking day for McDowell!? I hope he's ok...

Meanwhile Poults is going bannanas on twitter, no prizes for guessing why...

Serg looked good today albeit a couple of 3 putts from miles away. Not a bad score from Ramsey considering he was missing fairways right and left all day. Looking forward to the last round.

Sand ... not sure what kind of shot Ramsay was trying to play out of the trees at the final hole but surely the club he used (to play under the trees) was far too lofted?

Yeah was a poor shot, think he was thinking more about where he wanted to play his 3rd shot from before committing to his 2nd. Your right about the loft certainly looked like that.

Kwinni how dare you.

I'm a bit of a fan of Webster and Howler, good to see them up there.
I don't subscribe to sky sports so I can't see what the weather is like!

Hope that Sergio can keep it going today, a 2nd win would do wonders for his confidence.

Great to see David Howell in the top ten - a true gent who goes about his business quietly, and doesn't moan when things are not going his way.

Mary wrote:Hope that Sergio can keep it going today, a 2nd win would do wonders for his confidence.

Great to see David Howell in the top ten - a true gent who goes about his business quietly, and doesn't moan when things are not going his way.

Agreed. Sergio's putting stroke is looking pretty smooth these days.

I would like to see Ramsay finish a lot stronger than he did yesterday (still haven't worked out what he was trying to do with yon shot out of the trees at the final hole ).

David Howell is one of the gents in the game and a good finish will hopefully restore some confidence.

i like howel- but he is abit forgettable, which is no drama for him especially, the guy probally lives a normal life yet has all the trappings of being a tour pro.

Horrendous weekend for McDowell 81 & 82...

Pretty poor season in general.

Come on Serg!!

Mary,
Agree about Howell, but being a local boy for you doesn't hurt your assessment of him one bit, do you think??!!
A top ten here should ensure he keeps his card without dipping into the lifetime exemption box.

2 under thru 3 MAJ so now tied with serg.

Much though I want Sergio back to his best, I'd rather see Miguel win here... would tie up a lot of his major exemptions for another year, and set him well for a RC place, as well as making him one of the oldest tour winners.

this course is a beast and under pressure a winner could come from a player that feels like he is out of it and then plays the last few well.

if garcia can hold on to this- then i think any doubts about it being home course, easy field last week will be quashed, but this is a totally different envioroment

got to confess that i think the timing of the shanghai money game is abit out of order- i feel as though valderamma should be a flag ship event on the euro tour, great course and a good test of golf

mystiroakey wrote:got to confess that i think the timing of the shanghai money game is abit out of order- i feel as though valderamma should be a flag ship event on the euro tour, great course and a good test of golf

I feel it is the players who snub this one are out of order... but I can see how they may prefer to acclimatise a week in Shanghai before a WGC (not to mention the $$$ for appearing).

good [point forgot about the WGC, maybe the euro tour sdhould look at a change in scheduling.

mystiroakey wrote:good [point forgot about the WGC, maybe the euro tour sdhould look at a change in scheduling.

It would make sense to me if they were to switch it with the Castello Masters.

Doesn't much metter when they schedule the HSBC, it will never attract all the best players until it becomes an inegral part of the PGA Tour's official season. Sad but true.
Unfortunately World is a foreign concept to the PGA Tour unless it refers to something in America.

kwinigolfer wrote:Doesn't much metter when they schedule the HSBC, it will never attract all the best players until it becomes an inegral part of the PGA Tour's official season. Sad but true.
Unfortunately World is a foreign concept to the PGA Tour unless it refers to something in America.

Hi Kwini, we were actually arguing the other side of it, the conflict with Valderrama and the Shanghai Masters. If the Andalucian Masters was a week earlier the field would be stronger and the course deserves it. The money available in Asia is going to interfere with it if they keep it as it is.

Serg struggling a bit, not happening really. good round from webster and ramsey still there so interesting back 9 in store.

Rr,

Time to work with "Asia" on all these events; they have more than enough money and enticements to canibalise the other Tours.
But would still like to see the HSBC inside the PGA Tour season, an official event - asking for trouble (like the Shanghai exhibition) as things currently are.
Tip of the iceberg I reckon.

this tourny is heating up- lowey webster and ramsey getting in the mix.

serg still not 100% on them putts, but rallied to get a birdie- in a better mind set at present

Great finish, very hard to call...

C'mon Shaaaaaaaaaaane!!

ouch - green just got damnaged by immenez smashing his putter into the green, not saying i havent done it before mind

BANG, Sergio!!! He's on his way.........
What a horror tee shot there from Ramsey...

tommy tank from ramsey

Gutted for ramsey. boy found his ball and didnt tell him. looking in the wrong place too

ermm suspicious that kid could have ruined a good finish- did he really find it within the 5 minutes?

kwinigolfer wrote:Rr,

Time to work with "Asia" on all these events; they have more than enough money and enticements to canibalise the other Tours.
But would still like to see the HSBC inside the PGA Tour season, an official event - asking for trouble (like the Shanghai exhibition) as things currently are.
Tip of the iceberg I reckon.

Where would you like to see it scheduled?

Wow what a shot from jimenez

Rr,
Scheduling of HSBC:
Without looking at all the Tour calendars at once, not sure, but seems the failure to include it within the scope of the PGA Tour season will always cause it to be seen as a silly season event. Official money in Europe, but not in the US, outside the scope of PGA Tour records etc.
If the PGA Tour ends its season with Disney AFTER the HSBC, and treats it as official, that would clearly work. Place the Shanghai shindig after HSBC instead of before, and the integrity of Valderama might be intact.
And get rid of the Malaise-ian event which clearly won't receive the support the prize-fund warrants.

Not the ball-striking we're used to from Sergio today. If the Golf Channel commentators are to be believed, he's used driver six times today and only hit one fairway with it.

Incidentally, we have Paul Eales pulling the on-course commentator shift; quite like him in a Philip Parkin sort of way.

serg has a 2 and a half footer for the win!

looks game over

shame the others fell apart, and ramsey had a bit of bad luck- but got to say - serg did enough, and a couple of clutch putts down the straight to keep ahead- nothing amazingly special but all the same a good win and a confidence boost.

never seen a tourny end like that

-6
-5
-4
-3
-2
-1
then 2 players on par.

Just literally managed to get home in time to see the last 2 holes. Well done Sergio back to back wins and no-one can say this wasn't well fought and played, as some media sources last week tried saying he won on his home track was too easy etc. He has played a hard course this week and his game is certainly returning Sergio is formidable whens his game is on, let's hope he goes back to the height of his game and the OGWR

+25 and propping up the leader board GMac, need we say more....

Good round from serg really. didnt play that well but ground it out. delighted for him and glad hes back

Anyone had confirmation that Sergio will take his place in China next week?

Wouldn't it be something if he won that again too??!!

That would show everyone he's back? (Except the narrow-minded US Media that is.)

kwinigolfer wrote:Anyone had confirmation that Sergio will take his place in China next week?

Wouldn't it be something if he won that again too??!!

That would show everyone he's back? (Except the narrow-minded US Media that is.)

Just read on Sky Sports hes not playing...

Shame id have liked him to make it 3 in a row.

mystiroakey wrote:ermm suspicious that kid could have ruined a good finish- did he really find it within the 5 minutes?

it was truly bizarre, according to the commentators it was a scotsman who found the ball about a minute after the 5 mins were up

thing is, he obviously knew exactly where the ball was to have literally gone straight to it but why did he not go over within the 5 mins?

Ramsay must have been a very angry man, he did well to play last 3 in -1

a scotsman omg-thats more than bizarre, but at least it was after the 5 mins was up- anyway hard luck, its a shame- obvioulsy it happens to us mortals every other round miinimum, but all the same very unlucky as a pro

MODs any chance of removing sticky for this one