Carlos Balmaseda thinks Spanish golfers at the inaugural Mountain Creek Open will have all the inspiration they need given they are playing on a Seve Ballesteros-dsigned course.
He said: “Of course, Seve is always in our thoughts and prayers. He was one of a kind and an incredible champion, the best golfer the world has ever seen.
“If a Spaniard can go on and win this week, it will be a great tribute to Seve. Few golfers have ever been as charismatic and imaginative as him. We all miss him.
“With long par-4s and dog-legs, the course, in typically Seve fashion, is about good shot-making. It will be a big week for us.
“We look forward to a great week and hope his memories will inspire us to achieve some great results,” added the 44-year-old Spaniard, who finished sixth at last week’s Ras Al Khaimah Classic.
The staging of the first MENA Golf Tour event at the Mountain Creek Golf Resort will also provide players an opportunity to sample first hand some of the excitement Thailand has to offer to golfers.
Supported by Golf Citizen, the tournament will see a collection of international players, representing 18 countries, join some of Thailand’s emerging talent, underscoring the Tour’s resolve to develop and promote the game across the MENA region and beyond.
"Spanish contingent looks up to Seve for inspiration at Mountain Creek Open" read more here https://t.co/unMkXntwOj pic.twitter.com/W4NmIOrFps
— MENA Golf Tour (@MENAGolfTour) May 10, 2016
Spearheaded by Craig Hinton, who is currently placed fourth on the Order of Merit, the English players lead the field with 22 ent-ries followed by seven each from Spain, Sweden and Scotland.
“The course is very testing and demanding and requires a sound strategy off the tee. It’s not a course where you hit a driver every hole. You need to place the ball,” said John Wither, the Mountain Creek PGA professional.
“For that to happen, you need to shape the ball if you aim to go low this week. You got to know where the ball finishes – too far and too short can land you in trouble on this course. Knowing your club yardages will be really important as it’s not a bomber’s course.
“If you missed the fairway, it can be punishing. So, it will be crucial to hit straight and keep the ball in play. And chipping and putting will hold the key to success here.”
