Tag: Andalucía Masters

Laurie Canter takes lead at Andalucia Masters as he seeks maiden Euro Tour victory

The 31-year-old Canter is leading by three shots at Valderrama.

With his birdie on the final hole at Real Club Valderrama in Sotogrande, Spain – one of precious few made by the whole field on Saturday – Laurie Canter positioned himself firmly atop the leaderboard with one round to go at the Andalucia Masters.

Canter, of England, posted a round of 4-under 67 to reach 7 under for the tournament. That put him three shots ahead of Matthew Fitzpatrick in second and four ahead of David Lipsky.

Breezy conditions made for a difficult day for the field, but Canter mixed eight birdies, including two at the starting two holes, with four bogeys.

The 31-year-old Canter is looking for his first European Tour win but he has three second place finishes in the last two seasons, including at the 2021 BMW PGA Championship. He has won in Spain before, too, having claimed the 2011 Spanish International Amateur.

“The golf course doesn’t give you loads,” he said. “Although, as we all know, there’s opportunities to drop shots here. I think what it means is I can go out tomorrow and play how I have these last couple of days. The score I end up on will be competitive, I think. That gives me a lot of confidence going in.

“The course is asking a lot of different challenges and you can’t dwell when it goes against you. I’m trying to stay as level as I can and I’m doing a good job.”

Valderrama is a former Ryder Cup venue, having hosted the 1997 matches. Fittingly, Fitzpatrick is competing there for the first time this week since the Europeans lost the Cup last month.

He is seeking seventh win in as many seasons on the European Tour.

“I’m excited to be in the final group,” Fitzpatrick said. “The aim at the start of the week is to be up there. It doesn’t get better than having a chance to win on Sunday. I’ll go out there and enjoy it.

“Valderrama was a real test today. I’m really pleased with the way I grinded it out and I’m happy with the one under.”

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Jon Rahm hasn’t forgotten where he came from, spending time signing autographs in his home country of Spain

“I’m going to sign all the children, no matter how long it takes.”

The purse for the CJ Cup at The Summit Club this week is $10 million. The purse at the Andalucia Masters on the European Tour is $4 million. Where’s Jon Rahm?

Right where he wants to be, in his home country of Spain, for the second straight week.

Some things are bigger than money. Rahm is playing for a smaller paycheck this week, if you put the potential appearance fee aside, but the impact he’s making across the pond is no doubt larger than the one he’d be having in Las Vegas if he was teeing it up in Sin City.

After stumbling to a disappointing 78 in his opening round, the world No. 1 reportedly hung around after his last putt dropped to sign autographs for anyone and everyone who were willing to wait.

Not sure many do that after one of their worst rounds of the year.

The fans at Valderrama aren’t the only ones receiving love from their hometown hero. Last week at the Spanish Open, Rahm did the same thing. Despite opening the week with a 63, the Spaniard flattened off the rest of the way, finishing Sunday in a tie for 17th.

“I’m going to sign all the children, no matter how long it takes.”

Some stars just get it. Rahm, undoubtedly, is on that list.

On Friday, he’ll try to bounce back from his 7-over round, and put on a show for all the fans who made the trip to see their idol.

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A month after bubble gaffe, John Catlin tops Martin Kaymer to win at Valderrama

Roughly a month after he was removed from the European Tour for breaching COVID-19 protocols, John Catlin won the Andalucia Masters.

Roughly a month after he was removed from the European Tour for breaching COVID-19 protocols, former University of New Mexico star John Catlin has something to celebrate.

Catlin outlasted Martin Kaymer down the stretch to win the Andalucia Masters at Valderrama.

Kaymer finished with a bogey on the final hole, barely missing an effort from off the green, and Catlin tapped in for par to take the title.

In early August, Catlin and his caddie Nathan Mulrooney were removed from the English Championship after the pair dined a local restaurant outside the tournament bubble, “hence compromising the Tour’s health guidelines, and were withdrawn from the tournament with immediate effect as a result.”

The Sacramento, California, native had previously won four times on the Asian Tour, but never on the Euro Tour. In difficult conditions, Catlin finished with a 75 on Sunday to win the event at 2-over-par. Kaymer was stroke behind while Antoine Rozner, Wil Besseling and Justin Harding were all two off the top spot.