Golf in Spain will celebrate a momentous occasion this week when the Open de España is played for the first time at the Centro Nacional de Golf, the impressive new home of the Real Federacion Española de Golf (RFEG) in Madrid.
His Majesty King Juan Carlos I inaugurated the 18 hole golf course and Academy on the outskirts of the Spanish capital last year with European Tour Chief Executive George O’Grady and Ryder Cup Director Richard Hills among those in attendance.
As the King unveiled a commemorative plaque, RFEG President Emma Villacieros outlined the importance of the new facility in the progress of Spanish golf, advancement which will continue this week with the staging of one of the oldest Open Championships in continental Europe, a tournament which began in 1912 and which has been a feature on The European Tour International Schedule since 1972.
Large numbers of Madrileños are expected to enjoy the action with their journey to the Centro Nacional de Golf expediated by the spectator friendly nature of the venue, with the nearest underground station a mere 400 metres from the course while the bus station lies even closer.
Once there, spectators and players alike will find a course which has been toughened to face the challenge of the cream of European Tour talent. Several fairways have been narrowed while Championship tees have been moved back on the second, fourth, fifth, tenth, 15th, 16th and 18th holes, bringing the overall length of the course to 6,622 metres (7,242 yards).
As always the host nation’s challenge for the title will be strong, with every player looking to become the first Spanish winner of the title since Sergio Garcia triumphed at El Cortijo Club in 2002.
Leading the home hopefuls is 13 time European Tour winner Miguel Angel Jiménez, the man from Malaga ably backed up by José Manuel Lara and Alvaro Quiros – both tournament winners this season – as well as by Alejandro Cañizares and Gonzalo Fernandez-Castaño, both champions on The 2006 European Tour International Schedule.
Defending champion will be Sweden’s Niclas Fasth who triumphed in dramatic fashion at the San Roque Club 12 months ago when, after tying with England’s John Bickerton on 18 under par 270, Fasth’s birdie three at the fourth extra hole was good enough to seal victory.
Fasth will have an extra incentive to succeed on Sunday night for April 29, 2007 is the date of his 35th birthday, the perfect present to himself undoubtedly being the £226,150 (€333,330) first prize and his sixth European Tour victory.
In addition, Fasth’s home country is aiming for its third successive winner of the event following his own success last year and Peter Hanson in 2005. Should another of the many talented Swedes on show triumph this week it would be a first as never before has The European Tour witnessed three wins in succession in the same tournament by different Swedish players.
The Open de España is supported, amongst other sponsors, by the insurance company Reale Seguros which will make a contribution of €1.5 million to the event which carries a total prize fund of €2 million.
