Jon Rahm’s victory in last weekend’s Open de España was the 182nd European Tour win by a player from Spain. Now, just 182 days away from the second European Tour event of the year in Spain, early bird tickets for the Andalucía Valderrama Masters are have been released for sale at europeantour.com/tickets.
Fans gathered in their thousands in Madrid on Sunday to see Rahm become the second successive Spanish player to win a European Tour event on home soil, after Sergio García’s victory at the 2017 Andalucía Valderrama Masters, which returns to the renowned Royal Valderrama Club from 18 to 21 October.
García delighted Spanish fans with an emotional victory in Sotogrande last year, as he sealed his third win of the season to add to his maiden major title, the Masters, as well as the Omega Dubai Desert Classic trophy.
He thus continued his love affair with the venue – where he became the first Spaniard to win a European Tour stroke play event in 2011 – at the end of a week in which he was also awarded honorary life membership of both the European Tour and Royal Valderrama Club.
“Winning in Valderrama was very special. It’s difficult to describe what it meant to win at home, at one of my favourite golf courses and in front of my family and the Spanish fans,” said Garcia, speaking after his victory in 2017.
“It was a great week; I was happy with my game and particularly with my attitude. I kept patient and made sure that the bad shots didn’t affect me too much. To win in Valderrama you have to be very patient; you have to love the place. And I love Valderrama.
“The spectators were unbelievable all week; many came out and enjoyed it not only because I won, but because they saw some great golf thanks to Joost Luiten and all the players – 2017 was an amazing year both for me and for Spanish golf. As for me, it was probably the best year in my career.”
Early bird tickets for the 2018 Andalucía Valderrama Masters are €8 for the Pro-Am on Wednesday 17 October; €12 on Thursday and Friday of the tournament; and €20 on Saturday and Sunday. Children aged under-14 are admitted to the event free of charge when accompanied by a ticket-holding adult.
