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!