Oz in Spain

Singer-songwriter supremo JJ Cale, one of the originators of the “Tulsa sound” (a genre influenced by blues, jazz, country, folk and rockabilly), has died in California aged 74 after suffering a heart attack. Apart from his own memorably laidback albums, he wrote timeless masterpieces covered by other top musicians, including  “After Midnight” and “Cocaine” by Eric Clapton, and “Call Me The Breeze” by Lynyrd Skynyrd and Johnny Cash.

For Australian visitors to the 1992 Expo in Sevilla, the Kangaroo Pub became an iconic meeting point, not to mention an excellent haven from the summer heat to enjoy a chilled beer.

As the most popular watering hole at the universal exhibition – for both local Spaniards and international visitors – it also became an eminently sociable and convivial focus of cultural interaction. […]

(Photo: Getty Images)

Barely five months ago, Miguel Ángel Jiménez was laid up in a hospital bed recovering from an operation to his tibia, which he had broken in a skiing accident in Sierra Nevada. Now, in just his second tournament appearance since putting the crutches aside (he missed the cut in the Spanish Open in El Saler in April), the European Tour’s oldest winner produced a remarkable performance to close birdie-eagle at the daunting Wentworth course and finish joint fourth (with overnight leader Alejandro Cañizares) in the flagship BMW PGA Championship.

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Summer Chic at Nikki Beach

Nikki Beach’s 10th anniversary celebrations in Marbella officially begin with the über-glamorous White Party on 30 May. Already opened to the public in April, Nikki Beach Marbella’s plush seaside setting of all-white beach sun beds and chic drapery includes a large outdoor restaurant, centrally located octagon-shaped bar, Lifestyle Boutique with items including Nikki Beach-branded and designer clothing, swimwear and cover-ups, indoor-outdoor VIP area (with elevated lounge area and stunning views of the Mediterranean) and spa area by the beach.

The lunch and dinner menu features signature tastes and spices that are representative of all the countries where Nikki Beach is located, including delicious salads, creative sushi rolls, original seafood entrees and slow-roasted free-range rotisserie chicken.

Nikki Beach Mallorca, which was inaugurated last year, is now also open for the new season, with its White Party to be held on 6 June.

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Finland led the way, with Australia ranked 10th, in Save the Children’s annual report on the “State of the World’s Mothers”.

Debut Triumph for Mireia

Mireia Prat made quick amends for losing an excellent winning chance earlier in the year when she secured a one-shot victory over Australia’s Bree Arthur in the Ocho Golf Ladies Open at the Augas Santas Balneario & Golf Resort in Galicia – part of the Ladies European Tour Access Series (satellite tour). It was the 23-year-old from Barcelona’s first title as a professional. […]

While the men’s game has, in many ways, become tediously predictable in recent seasons, the Ladies European Tour offers a marked contrast: blossoming new talent, exotic horizons and a sparkle of sensuality… all with a rich Spanish flavour.
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José María Olazábal, Jaime Ortiz-Patiño, George O’Grady and Ángel Gallardo (Photo: Getty Images)

It was July 1990, the British Open was being played at St. Andrews, and an earlier (and less bald) incarnation of OzinSpain was sipping a Scotch in the downstairs clubhouse lounge area set aside for press and players that week. (Those were the good old days when press and players cheerfully mingled – some even bought us drinks!) […]