. Juan Guerrero-Burgos, President of the RFEG: “Camiral is a well-deserved appointment after two failed attempts. The development of golf in Catalonia and Spain is going to be phenomenal because the pre- and post-Ryder legacy will be very significant.”

. Ignacio Garrido, Spanish golfer present at the 1997 Valderrama Ryder Cup: “The impact of Severiano Ballesteros is still present. He was a sensation, leaving an indelible mark, especially on the golf course.”

Speaking of the past, in the words of Nacho Garrido, one of the members of the European team that won the 1997 Ryder Cup at Valderrama, referring to that unforgettable event, "the impact of Severiano Ballesteros is still present, he is a person who caused a sensation, who left an indelible mark, especially on the golf course"“

Speaking of the present, with the 2025 Ryder Cup about to begin in New York, Nacho Garrido also asserted, “Europe has a solid team, one that already knows what it’s like to win. They are golfers who will know how to react, although having the crowd on your side is a huge advantage, and, mind you, being able to set up the course to your liking.”.

And speaking of the future, with 2031 in mind, “Camiral is a well-deserved appointment after two failed attempts. The development of golf in Catalonia and Spain is going to be phenomenal because the pre- and post-Ryder legacy will be very significant,” declared Juan Guerrero-Burgos, President of the Royal Spanish Golf Federation.

"All for the Ryder Cup!" is now the motto that expresses the unanimous support of the entire Spanish team, ready to make - as stated during the official presentation at Camiral Golf - the best Ryder Cup in history, just like what happened at Valderrama in 1997, all in the lead-up to the 2025 edition in New York. 

The designation of the famous Girona golf complex has once again highlighted our country's international recognition when it comes to hosting top-level sporting events.

Having hosted prestigious tournaments for years, Camiral will follow in the footsteps of Bethpage Black in New York (2025), Adare Manor in Ireland (2027) and Hazeltine National in Minnesota (2029) as legendary venues for the world's most important team competition in golf before the Ryder Cup lands in Girona.

This will be the second time Spain has hosted the Ryder Cup, specifically 34 years after the legendary Seve Ballesteros captained the European team that triumphed at Valderrama in 1997, recognizing the crucial contribution of Spanish golf to the history of the Ryder Cup, as eleven golfers from our country have represented the European team throughout history, the second highest number on the continent only behind England.

Severiano Ballesteros, José María Olazábal, Sergio García, José María Cañizares, Miguel Ángel Jiménez, Jon Rahm, Manuel Piñero, José Rivero, Antonio Garrido and Nacho Garrido (and Miguel Ángel Martín, injured in the lead-up to Valderrama 1997) make up that exclusive and important list.

Juan Guerrero-Burgos, President of the RFEG, acknowledges: “Spain is the first continental country with two Ryder Cups, and that is a success that would not have happened without the support of the institutions, players and, above all, without Seve.”.

The mere mention of the genius from Pedreña served to introduce the day's main protagonist, Nacho Garrido, into the conversation. In his first speech, he dissected his role in the legendary 1997 edition. "That was Seve's Ryder Cup. That's why I think the 2031 edition will be Spain's first Ryder Cup," he pointed out.

“We wouldn’t have won the 1997 Ryder Cup without Seve, nor would I have performed like that without him. In those matches that went to 18 or were interrupted by rain, with so much tension, Seve had a tremendous influence. He instilled confidence in you, he’d say, ‘Look at you, of course you can beat Phil Mickelson,’ and you believed it,” he remarked, sharing an anecdote.

That Ryder Cup, the 1997 edition, was the focus of much of the relaxed conversation with the press and the athletes who attended this edition of the Communication Cup, from Jordi Villacampa to Bernd Schuster and Miguel Ángel Ferrer 'Mista'. And the one who had the most to say was Nacho Garrido, who revealed how he experienced the event from the inside.

“What impressed me most about that week was that in such an individual and selfish sport—where we're all a bit like enemies on a daily basis—there was such a great sense of camaraderie. On the second day, Darren Clarke was like a brother to me. I saw Jesper Parnevik, a cold, Swedish guy, after a long time, and he greeted me as if I were family too. It's an experience that stays with you forever,” he explained.

Nacho Garrido is one of only eleven Spaniards to have played in a Ryder Cup, and that has given him the opportunity to experience unique situations, like that legendary match alongside José María Olazábal. “It’s something you experience once in a lifetime. Like a Champions League final where you come back from 3-0 down. We were playing against Mickelson and Tom Lehman, and thanks to the crowd, who carried us on their shoulders, we saw that we could win. In those situations, the crowd is the 13th player,” he said.

Another conclusion of the meeting was that the memorable 1997 Ryder Cup helped popularize golf in Spain. “I remember a few months later, on a plane, people recognized me and started applauding. It had never happened to me before,” recalls the Madrid native, a player with victories on the European and Challenge tours.

The other conclusion of the day was offered by Juan Guerrero-Burgos and seconded by the forum: “The 2031 Ryder Cup is going to be the best Ryder Cup in history. But not only because of the support and work of all the institutions, but because I am convinced that each and every one of the Spanish federation members will become ambassadors for the 2031 Ryder Cup, our Ryder Cup.”.