. Suzanne Pettersen, Florentyna Parker, Georgia Hall, Azahara Muñoz and Carlota Ciganda bring Solheim Cup experience to a spectacular competition
. Apart from Azahara Muñoz, the current champion, South Africans Lee-Anne Pace and Connie Chen already know what it's like to win a Spanish Women's Open
. Those who have won the Spanish Women's Open on occasion have not, however, been able to repeat the experience so far this century.
Five players with Solheim Cup experience, three former winners and five from Andalusia constitute the most grandiose sporting points of interest of the imminent Andalucía Costa del Sol Open de España, a tournament of the European Professional Tour that will take place at the RCG Guadalmina (Málaga) between September 21 and 24 with the main sponsorship of Turismo de Andalucía, Turismo Costa del Sol and Mancomunidad de Municipios de la Costa del Sol Occidental.
Suzanne Pettersen, Georgia Hall, Florentyna Parker, Azahara Muñoz and Carlota Ciganda are the ones who bring Solheim Cup experience to a competition that looks spectacular, concentrating between them a good number of titles that makes them de facto main contenders for the title at stake.
Special mention goes to Norwegian Suzann Pettersen, a true star of world golf, with 2 Majors, 15 PGA victories and 6 LET wins to her credit, and a regular member of the European Solheim Cup team since 2002.
The Nordic player will find serious opposition in Azahara Muñoz and Carlota Ciganda, the two great icons of Spanish women's golf based on their great and repeated results both on the American and European Circuits.
Within the Solheim Cup quintet of players are also two Englishwomen, the more mature Florentyna Parker, with three victories to her credit – the last of them, by the way, in Spain, in mid-April, in the Estrella Damm Mediterranean Ladies Open – and the young promise Georgia Hall, who has burst onto the continental golf scene with enormous force, adding in the current season two prestigious third places – in the World Ladies Championship and the Ricoh Women's British Open – which give her maximum prominence.
Three players who already know what it's like to win the Spanish Open
Also in the spotlight are those who have already won the Spanish Women's Open, who come to the Malaga course with the intention of winning for the second time in a competition that has a kind of unwritten curse, which prevents its winners in this century from lifting the champion's trophy again.
Azahara Muñoz, the quintessential local player, will nevertheless fight to repeat the glorious experience of last year, when she prevailed in a spectacular final round against the American Beth Allen.
Two South Africans, Lee-Anne Pace and Connie Chen, find themselves in a similar situation, both having previously won the championship trophy. Pace did so in 2013 at the Club de Campo Villa de Madrid, after beating Sweden's Mikaela Parmlid by one stroke, while Chen also aspires to have her name inscribed on the coveted pedestal of the Spanish Women's Open trophy – increasingly populated, incidentally, by players of impressive renown – thanks to her masterful performance in 2014 at Costa Adeje in Tenerife, which marked her first professional victory.
As if there weren't enough points of interest, special mention must be made of those who are legends of this sport. With the incomparable Laura Davies absent on this occasion, the legendary spotlight is stolen by her fellow Englishwoman Trish Johnson, who, with 17 LET victories to her name, serves as an example of professionalism for all those present.
Five Andalusian women, a local flavor to the competition
On a more local level, it's worth highlighting the participation of five Andalusian golfers within a Spanish delegation of twenty players. Leading the list is the ubiquitous Azahara Muñoz, who trained from a very young age at the tournament venue, the RCG Guadalmina. Also on the team are Noemí Jiménez and Laura Cabanillas, a promising young talent and an example of professionalism and fighting spirit, respectively—another five Andalusian players—completed by María Parra and Piti Martínez, both with a distinctly local flavor.
AROUND THE OPEN
Free admission
Entry to witness the four days of competition – from September 21 to 24 – of the Andalucía Costa del Sol Open de España Femenino is free.
TV images to more than 120 countries
The best images of the Andalucía Costa del Sol Open de España will reach more than 120 countries thanks to an ambitious television production that has required, among other things, the installation of an 80-meter-high tower to house a camera from which a spectacular perspective of the entire Guadalmina golf course can be enjoyed.
Maintenance befitting a major tournament
Hosting this tournament, part of the Ladies European Tour, has required additional maintenance to further enhance the already superb presentation of a course that is typically excellent in every respect. To exceed all requirements, the RCG Guadalmina has acquired specialized machinery, an investment that will ultimately benefit its members.
Essential support for a highly important tournament
The support from Turismo de Andalucía, Turismo Costa del Sol and the Association of Municipalities of the Western Costa del Sol is part of a sports and tourism promotion effort, aware of the appeal of golf among national and foreign tourists, who find in this sport an additional incentive when choosing this Spanish region as a destination.
This prestigious competition is also supported by Reale Seguros, the Royal Spanish Golf Federation, the Royal Andalusian Golf Federation, RCG Guadalmina, the Spanish National Sports Council, and the Ladies European Tour. It is organized by Deporte & Business.
RELEVANT TOURNAMENT DATA
Real Club de Golf Guadalmina
Opened in 1959
Address: Urbanización Guadalmina Alta s/n. 29678 San Pedro de Alcántara (Málaga)
Telephone: 952 883 375
Fax: 952 883 483
e-mail: secretaria@guadalminagolf.com
web: www.guadalminagolf.com
Nearest airport: Malaga (70 km)
Designer: Javier Arana
Number of holes: 2 courses of 18 and one of 9
Main institutional sponsors: Tourism of Andalusia, Tourism Costa del Sol and Association of Municipalities of the Western Costa del Sol
Tournament sponsors: Royal Spanish Golf Federation, Royal Andalusian Golf Federation, RCG Guadalmina, Marbella and San Pedro de Alcántara City Councils, Higher Sports Council, Ladies European Tour and Universo Mujer.
Partner companies: Reale Seguros, Volvo, Solán de Cabras, Mahou, Kyocera, Omega, Etihad Airways, Loterías y Apuestas del Estado, Movistar, Riversa, Sevillana de Electricidad and Clínica Quirón.
Promoter: Royal Spanish Golf Federation
Organizers: Ladies European Tour, Royal Spanish Golf Federation and Sport & Business
About the Ministry of Tourism and Sport of the Andalusian Regional Government
Andalusia is one of the world's most comprehensive tourist destinations, offering a diverse and high-quality range of experiences that places it among the top choices for both international and domestic tourists. Furthermore, Andalusia is an international benchmark for golf tourism. Its exceptional climate allows for year-round play on over a hundred courses, located in prime locations with stunning landscapes or close to idyllic beaches.
About Tourism Costa del Sol
Its nearly 70 courses have made the province of Málaga-Costa del Sol the leading golf destination in Europe, hence its nickname, the Costa del Golf. Few places like the Costa del Sol offer so many attractions in one destination, because our province not only boasts superb infrastructure for playing golf, but also a privileged climate that allows for year-round play.
About RCG Gualdalmina
Considered one of the best courses in Spain, the RCG Guadalmina was originally designed by the renowned Javier Arana and later remodeled by Stirling & Martin. A varied and challenging course, it stands out both for the beauty of its holes and the wide range of shots required to complete them. While the fairways appear wide, there are few water hazards, which only come into play on the 13th hole. However, the height and density of the trees are a significant factor and can be intimidating from the tee boxes. Additionally, the par 3s are tricky, especially when one of the area's prevailing winds picks up.
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