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Newsweek
30-05-2025
- Sport
- Newsweek
Sergio Garcia Takes Major Step to Hopeful Ryder Cup Return
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Sergio García has declared his goal of returning to the Ryder Cup in September. The Spaniard knows he must meet two crucial requirements: first, he must play the minimum number of events required by DP World Tour rules; second, he must prove he is fit to play at Bethpage Black. With the first objective in mind, García has announced one of the European Tour events where he will compete before the Ryder Cup: the BMW International Open in July. He also used the moment to confirm his return to the Spanish Open in October. "Yes, definitely playing BMW International Open and will also play Spanish Open," García revealed via text message to Golf Magic. DP World Tour members must play at least four tournaments to keep their cards. García has already played two of them, the Masters and the PGA Championship, both of which are part of the European Tour calendar. He must complete the remaining tournaments during the season, not before the Ryder Cup. The 2017 Masters winner could meet that requirement with the events he's already committed to. Now, he needs to demonstrate his level by posting good results. García knows it's almost impossible for him to qualify as a member of Luke Donald's team in the top six rankings. His hopes rest on his ability to excel and earn one of the captain's six picks. Sergio Garcia of Fireballs GC looks on day one of LIV Golf Mexico City at Club de Golf Chapultepec on April 25, 2025 in Mexico City, Mexico. Sergio Garcia of Fireballs GC looks on day one of LIV Golf Mexico City at Club de Golf Chapultepec on April 25, 2025 in Mexico City, European Ryder Cup team is composed through a points system that ranks all eligible players. There are six automatic qualifiers. From there, Donald freely picks the other six members of the group. Sergio Garcia is a European Ryder Cup legend and one of the event's most successful players. He has won six of his ten appearances and holds the record for the most points in the event with 28.5. The 2025 BMW International Open will mark García's 14th appearance and first since 2022. In his previous 13 starts in Germany, the Masters winner achieved five top-10 finishes, including two second-place finishes in 2011 and 2017. García has also participated in 13 Spanish Open editions, most recently in 2019. He won the tournament in 2002 and finished in two other top 10s. More Golf: US Women's Open: Charley Hull Shows Up Lexi Thompson's Slow Play
NBC Sports
04-04-2025
- Sport
- NBC Sports
'I like chasing': Spanish pair eyes Saturday rally at Augusta National
AUGUSTA, Ga. – On a stacked Stanford team that features five players ranked 27th or better in the world, it's difficult to stand out. But Andrea Revuelta, an 18-year-old from Madrid, ended last year with serious momentum after grabbing low-amateur honors over her Spanish teammate Paula Martin Sampedro at the Spanish Open, the Ladies European Tour event in early December where Revuelta tied for fifth. Then the freak accident happened. Revuelta was working out in January when she attempted to re-rack a 40-pound plate. Next thing she knew her right shoulder gave way. 'I looked back and couldn't see my shoulder,' Revuelta said. Luckily, Revuelta's shoulder quickly popped back into place. But the injury still relegated her to the sidelines for months. As she gears up for Saturday's final round of the Augusta National Women's Amateur, Revuelta still favors the shoulder slightly, and yet, there she is, tied for third with another Cardinal in Megha Ganne and fellow Spaniard Carla Bernat, the Kansas State senior who is paired with Revuelta in the penultimate twosome, right in front of co-leaders Lottie Woad and Kiara Romero, who are just one shot clear. 'This is such a magical place,' Revuelta said. 'I feel like you have to make it your own, and you have to play with your game whatever you think it is.' For Revuelta, that's ball-striking at an elite level, including hitting greens at a high percentage (she's tied for first in the field through 36 holes). Bernat, a two-time, second-team All-American last season, doesn't have a glaring weakness, says her college coach Stew Burke, but that didn't stop her from asking countryman Josele Ballester, the reigning U.S. Amateur champion out of Arizona State, for some chipping advice. Carla Bernat Escuder of Spain on the No. 5 green during the second round of the Augusta National Women's Amateur at Champions Retreat Golf Club, Thursday, April 03, 2025. (Photo by Augusta National/)Bernat and Ballester were basically neighbors growing up in Castellon, Spain. They attended the same high school, and when both decided to transition from tennis to golf, they sought the tutelage of Victor Garcia, father of past Masters champion Sergio Garcia. 'He's like my brother,' Bernat said of Ballester. Ballester makes his Masters debut next week, while Bernat is coming off a T-17 showing at last year's ANWA, where she carded a final-round 72 two days after being the only person to break 70 in difficult conditions at Champions Retreat. Burke calls Bernat the ultimate underdog. 'That's a mistake a lot of people make,' Burke said. 'She never gets on the Annika watch list, and I don't know why. She's got that underdog mentality. All her preparation this season has been building to get ready for this event. This is not unexpected. 'She's ready to break through.' Currently No. 29 in WAGR, Bernat is on a streak of four straight top-6 finishes, including a T-3 at last week's Silicon Valley Showcase, where she turned in the exact three-round scores as Revuelta, who was competing as an individual in her first event back from injury while Stanford's A-team was keeping their perfect season alive at Colonial. There was added significance to that event, too, as the host course, Green Hills Country Club in Millbrae, California, is designed by the same architect as Augusta National, Alister Mackenzie. 'We specifically picked that because of this,' Burke said. 'What a way to prepare.' With Friday's practice round over and their preparation finalized, all that is left for Revuelta and Bernat to do is get some rest and wake up ready to compete their hardest. 'I've dreamt it a lot, to be honest,' Revuelta said. 'I've said this speech in my head like probably a thousand times to be honest. I feel golf is a game you have to play shot by shot. … Thinking that whatever happens, it's for a reason. You've come here with your homework done. I've practiced, I know my game, I know I'm ready, and I'm excited to see what tomorrow holds for me.' Added Bernat: 'I think I'm going to sleep OK because I can chase instead of be chased in this moment, right? I like chasing more than being chased. Yeah, I mean, I came here to win, right? I don't want to think about people behind me, just in front.'
The Independent
06-02-2025
- Sport
- The Independent
Grand Hyatt La Manga Golf and Spa: How this sun-blessed golf resort captivated a family of six on a half-term break
Standing in giant metal ring at least twice her height while wielding a long wooden stick, this was not quite what my nine-year old daughter had expected from her half-term holiday in Spain. Waving the pole around her head in flailing circular motion, she dissolved into giggles as she worked on trying to perfect her swing. For her – and her three older siblings – this was their first real foray into golf, and quite the introduction it was too. As a family of six, we were staying at Grand Hyatt La Manga Golf & Spa, a hotel oasis in Murcia, between Alicante and Malaga in southern Spain, designed specifically for golf, padel, swimming and outside living. La Manga – for the uninitiated – is a very special place for golfers. In the 70s it hosted the Spanish Open, with greats such as Arnold Palmer and Bernard Gallagher battling it out on the 18th hole. Forty years on, it has had a complete facelift, and the hotel reopened in 2023 with revamped rooms, a brand new spa, a thriving golf academy and a keen eye to regaining the rights to host some of the most prestigious competitions on the tour. With its perfectly manicured greens, well-tended palm trees and immaculate paths, it is a beautiful spot – and a far cry from the more rustic activities we normally do. Trying to work out where to go and what to do with four children – two girls and two boys - aged between 9 and 13 during half term can be tricky. Something for everyone, not too far to travel – and not breaking the bank. Happily, my four have something in common – a real love of sport and keenness to try something new. For us, the draw was golf and padel, the sport belatedly taking the UK by storm long after the rest of Europe worked out how fun it was. On arrival at La Manga, via a thirty-minute drive from the airport, we were ushered into our inter-connecting family rooms. As a family of six, it is always hard to find rooms that can accommodate us all. But here, it wasn't a problem – the four children in one, and us in the other, linked by an adjoining door, all equipped with large and comfy beds. We arrived in the late afternoon, with long enough for the children and my husband to explore the sunny grounds, while I snuck off to the wonderfully serene spa. The hotel has been done up beautifully, with colonnades, polished marble, sloping lawns and four restaurants offering a mix of cuisine. The next morning, we started the day with the most enormous breakfast which involved multiple trips for waffles, fruit, bacon, omelettes, pastries, orange juice – all overlooking the last hole of the South Course, one of three first class courses available to guests. The feast was the highlight of the day for everyone – and still talked about at home, several weeks later. It wasn't until about the third trip to the buffet that I realised that everyone was in 'active wear'. From seven to seventy, there were serious golfers and tennis players, loading up for a serious day of sport. Luckily, we were up for the challenge. First stop was the golf academy, where under the care of the hugely patient and friendly Scottish golf pro Craig Donnelly, we were taught all about the sport. His office – a three walled room with an entire fourth side open to the elements – made me instantly jealous and it was here he put us through our paces. The idyllic setting, set off by picture perfect bright blue sky, was meant to inspire us to greatness. But our first efforts were, frankly, a little feeble. Aided by Trackman, the technological genius which checks your angle, where you hit the and how hard you hit the ball, it was clear we needed a little help. We were then shepherded into training ring, which felt ridiculous but actually gave you a proper sense of what you should be doing. This time, we were able to connect with the ball and struck more than with a satisfying 'thwack' (I'm still working on the golf lingo). After our lesson ended, we were unleashed on the practice greens to work on our putting. There, the serious players warmed up for their rounds, but didn't seem to mind the novices bumbling around next to them. Here we happily whiled away the time, pottering round in the warm breeze. I spent much of it nervous that we would hack apart the perfect greens, but Craig had taught us well. La Manga – despite its heritage and serious golf – was very relaxed. Everyone was there to do something they loved. If it wasn't golf, it was tennis and padel. A five-minute walk from the hotel were the 28 courts which make up La Manga's racquet club, run by British husband and wife team Nick and Sally Munns who took it over in 2021 and spent two million Euros refurbishing the lot. Embarking on another new sport, we descended en masse to meet Xavier, our cheery and patient – yes, there is a theme – coach. Telling us to forget all we knew about tennis, he explained the simple rules and dos and don'ts of padel, where to hit, how to score, how to play. As very part-time tennis players, it took a little bit of getting used to for me and my husband, but the kids took to it straight away, flicking the ball off the back wall in a way that I simply couldn't. By the end of the session, we were all converts, keen to do more, but also torn between the courts and the lure of the hotel pool with its giant inflatable swans. This slice of sunshine, sport and fun was exactly what we needed to escape timetables, lessons, commuting and day to day life. And the verdict from the four who loved every minute was simple – can we go back next half term?
