Ryder Cup Captain José María Olazábal, Miguel Angel Jiménez, Alvaro Quiros, Pablo Martín, José Manuel Lara, Rafael Cabrera Bella, Gonzalo Fernandez-Castaño, Pablo Larrazabal, Ignacio Garrido and Alejandro Cañizares, were joined by the likes of Jorge Campillo, Alvaro Velasco, Carlos del Moral, Alfredo Garcia Heredia, Manuel Quiros and Borja Etchart, and others on the putting green in Seville, all hoping to land a home victory on his historic occasion.
Quiros was the last to achieve the feat in 2010, also in Seville, with Sergio Garcia taking the title in 2002 for the two home wins since the turn of the century. Of course, players such as Seve Ballesteros – a three-time winner – and Antonio Garrido, who won the 1972 Open de España which launched the European Tour 40 years ago, are among those to have their names etched on the trophy.
The home contingent will face a strong international challenge from the likes of Matteo Manassero, Francesco and Edoardo Molinari, Major Champions Shaun Micheel and Rich Beem as well as Simon Khan, Anders Hansen, Ross Fisher, Søren Kjeldsen, Thomas Levet and many more.
But with Cabrera Bello already winning in Dubai this year and Jiménez arriving after a solid fifth place finish in last week’s Ballantine’s Championship, the home fans have high hopes for this week.