Oz in Spain

Volvo World Match Play will return… next May

(Photo: Michael Denker)

By PEDRO BOLICHERO

IT HAD BEEN the subject of much speculation and bar-stool punditry. When were they planning to hold the 2010 Volvo World Match Play Championship? Or, more to the point: would they be holding it at all? (more…)

Road to Morocco leads to Hope fulfilled in Spain

Noted bon vivant Jiménez shares his secrets for preparing a traditional paella

By PEDRO BOLICHERO

THE WEEK BEFORE he had squandered a two-stroke overnight lead to finish second in the Trophée Hassan II in Morocco. This time Louis Oosthuizen took just a one-stroke lead into the final day of the Open de Andalucía at Málaga’s Parador, but was even more determined not to make it a fifth runner-up finish on the European Tour. (more…)

Madrid launches bid for 2018 Ryder Cup

(Photo: Michael Denker)

By PEDRO BOLICHERO

THERE ARE several reasons why Madrid should host the 2018 Ryder Cup – but one virtually unassailable one: the weather. (more…)

From Dubai triumph to Costa del Sol birthplace

(Photo: Jorge Andréu)

By PEDRO BOLICHERO

THE LAST TIME the Open de Andalucía was held at Málaga’s venerable Parador course, Miguel Ángel Jiménez delighted local fans with a resounding four-stroke victory. Now the Churriana-born player will be back at the course from 25 to 28 March in his dual role as promoter of the tournament and one of the European Tour’s established leading lights. (more…)

High-performance Jiménez triumphs in Dubai

Dual role as promoter of Open de Andalucía at Aloha in 2008 (Photo: Josele Sánchez)

By PEDRO BOLICHERO

IT WAS TOWARDS the end of 2003 and the Coast’s favourite golfing son, Miguel Ángel Jiménez, was mingling with guests at a presentation lunch in the La Quinta clubhouse. He stopped to chat with a group of local journalists, including yours truly, who noted that the golfer’s 40th birthday was coming up (5 January) and made some jocular remark about getting old (he himself having passed the milestone several years before). Feigning indignation, Jiménez retorted, “Old? What do you mean – not at all!”, winked and moved on to a less incriminatory group. (more…)

Uhh, but what about that other one, the World thingy?

Best Friends For(now): Felipe Ortiz-Patiño, Luciano Alonso and Keith Waters (Photo: Juan José Úbeda)

By PEDRO BOLICHERO

(GolfinSpain)

Fisher triumphs in Volvo World Match at Finca Cortesín

By PEDRO BOLICHERO

HE WAS DUBBED “The English Patient” by the Spanish press. Inscrutably focused, betraying hardly any emotion as he strode purposefully around the Finca Cortesín course, ranked 10th of the 16 players in the starting field of the Volvo World Match Play Championship, Ross Fisher beat Camilo Villegas on the first day, then lost to Lee Westwood and defeated Jeev Milkha Singh on the second day to top Group D and gain a semi-final place against reigning US Masters champion Angel Cabrera. (more…)

Robert Allenby tees off watched by Angel Cabrera

Worlds away at Finca Cortesin

By PEDRO BOLICHERO

I HAVE TO ADMIT I was sceptical. In the lead up to the Volvo World Match Play Championship I (and other bar-room experts consulted over a bottle of Ribera del Duero) had doubts about how strong the field would be.

(more…)