AWESOME Azahara

Stunning victory in first pro event – and second!

(Photo: Fernando Herranz)

GENERALLY CONSIDERED to be the best women’s golfer in the history of Spanish golf, 22-year-old Málaga golfer Azahara Muñoz was preparing to compete in the Ladies European Tour qualifying school late in 2009 after turning pro in September.

Then all of a sudden the individual (2008) and team (2009) winner of the US NCAA title (National Collegiate Athletic Association), 2009 British Ladies Amateur champion and runner-up in the 2008 US Women’s Amateur stunningly earned an exemption to compete on the LET. Competing in her first event as a professional, Muñoz carded an eagle on the first extra hole of sudden death against Swede Anna Nordqvist to win the Madrid Ladies Masters at Retamares Golf Club. In a gripping final day’s play, Nordqvist had closed with a 10-under 63 and Muñoz a 64 – both finishing level on 16-under.

Three weeks later, she won her second event as a pro, the seventh leg of the national women’s Banesto Tour, at Sant Cugat Golf Club; and in her third, lost a play-off to Tania Elósegui in the final event of the 2009 Banesto Tour.

To cap a sensational year, she then travelled to the US where she secured fifth place at the LPGA Tour qualifying school. Also gaining a place on next year’s tour was Elósegui, who finished 17th of the top 20 winning their cards for 2010.

UNMASKED!

The Oz Questionnaire

(Photo: Fernando Herranz)

■ What was your favourite subject in school?

Maths

■ What person, still alive, do you admire most?

Rafael Nadal

■ What’s your idea of perfect happiness?

Being with my family and friends.

■ What element of modern life gives you the most problems?

Technology – I struggle with it.

■ What’s the worst thing about being a woman?

I don’t know – I’m happy being a woman.

■ What word or phrase do you use most?

Really, I swear (En serio, te lo juro)

■ What scares you most?

Disappointing those who care about me.

(Photo: Fernando Herranz)

■ What book would you always have in your library?

World Without End, by Ken Follett

■ What’s the last film you saw at the cinema?

The Blind Side

■ What’s the last CD you bought?

El Canto del Loco (Spanish rock band)

■ What’s the first thing you think of when you wake up in the morning?

I don’t want to get up!

■ And the last thing you think about when you go to sleep at night?

I don’t know really; I always tend to think about what I’ve done during that day.

■ What section of the paper do you read first each day?

Sport

■ How much time are you connected to the internet each day?

30 minutes

■ What’s one thing you don’t leave home without?

Mobile phone

■ What alternative profession would you like to have taken up?

Tennis player

■ If you could travel in time, what era would you choose?

I think we live in the best era – I wouldn’t change it.

■ What’s the most exotic place you’ve visited?

I haven’t visited any exotic place… I love South Africa.

■ What is your idea of heaven?

To be with the people I care about forever.

■ What is your worst nightmare?

To die.

(Photo: David Martín)

■ FAVOURITE…

Number?    7

Colour?   Blue

Animal?   Dog

Flower?   Orchid

Sport?    Tennis

Meal?   Noodle soup

Hobby/pastime?   Being with my friends.

Luxury?   I love good handbags, but I actually don’t have many!

■ Star sign

Scorpio – 19 November 1987

■ Your favourite joke?

I never remember any jokes!