The music plays and the show it enters your eyes, even before the ball starts rolling. It is Tuesday, the first day that only players, members and the press are allowed access to the Real Club de Valderramacamouflaged to the teeth of LIFE Golf. A jovial and festive appearance, a spectacular package with hospitality tents, DJs or giant screens, this week does not stop hiding one of the most difficult courses in the world, perhaps more so this year with the dry and hard course willing to spoil the party. “The course is spectacular, it is one of the most difficult in Europe and in the world,” he says Eugenio Lopez-Chacarrathe only Spanish winner of the LIFE Golfwho makes his professional debut this week in Spain.
He LIV Golf Andalusia it is the first tournament of the Saudi tour in peacetime. The feeling is as if the players have lifted a weight off their shoulders. No one dares to delve into the agreement, there is a great lack of information, but the most heard assessment this week is unanimous: “good for golf.”
Sergio García, David Puig or Chacarra himself have a special twinkle in their eyes this week. Puig or Chacarra because they debut professionalism in his house, and because he feels as comfortable here as in his own. Member of the club and three times winner in this field, his favorite in the whole world.
– “Why don’t you play Jon Rahm?” – I hear a clueless partner ask in English on the practice field.
Peace came with the announcement of the agreement between the PGA Tour, DP World Tour y PIF on June 6, but it is still premature to know the fine print of this historic alliance. The Athletic leaked this week the six pages of the agreement without many clues beyond the declaration of good intentions of the parties. Although it seems that its first effects will not begin to be seen until 2024.