The Village Area.
Our first stop was the commercial zone. The plan was to wander around the course to see all the holes before following the leaders around the finish. A scouting mission before I come to play here. The first hole we saw was the 545 yard par 5 hole 9. The order of the day seemed to be lay-up to the lake guarded green. That was until Darren Clarke turned up. He hit a beauty to the centre of the green. Alas, he missed the eagle putt and had to settle for a birdie.
Monica and Jiménez.
The hole adjacent to the 9th is the par-5 5th. We settled down with enjoying a little picnic with strawberries until the leaders passed by. The gallery following this match was huge. We followed them around the lake at 6 and settle into a nice spot between the 7th green and 8th tee. At this point, Garrido was showing a few nerves having already dropped a shot. Jiménez, in contrast seemed relaxed and had pulled a shot back.
"On the Tee representing Stamford...."
They teed-up on the par-3 7th with Garrido holding a slender 1 shot lead. After the tee shots it was advantage Jiménez who had a makeable birdie putt whilst Garrido was chipping from the edge of the green. Garrido's nerves weren't helped by the big cheer coming from the 8th green. I turned around to see Hansen giving his caddy a high five from the middle of the fairway. He had just holed his approach for an eagle. Jiménez missed his birdie putt but Garrido could not save par. All Square on the 8th tee!
Darren Clarke on the 17th tee.
The sun had started to break through the crowds and the dreaded heat of Sevilla was noticeably on the up. We decided to leave the crowds and back track around the course. From all the hustle and bustle entailed with following the leaders to peace and tranquility within 2 minutes. Back to my scouting mission. A sense of anticipation and fear gripped me. What a great course it would be to play. However, the lakes and bunkers surrounding most of the greens made it a daunting prospect. It wasn't helped by the pin placement, near impossible to attack. Well it is the final day of the Spanish open. I hope they are more accessible when I return.
The trophy.
We walked around the course alone until we reached the lake complex at the top end of the course. Here you had great access to the 16th green, and the tees at 15 and 17. Unlike the leaders, the rest of the field were playing with very few spectators. So much so that you were almost on top of the players on the tee. The best part was on the tee of the par-3 17th, the "Hole in One" prize hole. Darren Clarke was Chatting to his caddy about club selection. "An easy 4 iron" was the caddy's reply. "The carry is 220?" asked Clarke. An easy 4-iron it is then!
Clarke wasn't having one of his best day's and didn't like his tee shot. However, he never lost his sense of humour. "Day's like these I don't know why I bother!". Welcome to my World!
The Winner, Peter Lawrie on the 18th Green.
With the heat becoming unbearable, we headed for shade around the 18th Green. Unfortunately, none was to be found. All the best positions had been take, so we had a try next to the markers tent. There were hardly any people around at the back, apart from staff looking after the trophy. It was a very relaxed atmosphere and I was invited up to have my photo taken with the trophy.
We settled in a spot near the tent to see the final pair approach the 18th Green. We had seen Lawrie, the clubhouse leader on -15, miss a very makeable birdie putt that would have won the title. Now, Garrido was a shot back and needed a birdie to force a play-off. It didn't look likely as he had found the fairway bunker with his tee shot. However, he played a nice shot and hit the green, although he was a good 30 foot away. I didn't hold out much hope of him making it.
We had already arranged how escape plan. "As soon as he misses were off" I told Monica. Garrido sent his putt towards the whole. The gallery went wild as it hit the back of the hole. I was even more surprised that Monica was clapping and cheering away. She loved it!
The only problem was now we had to wait for the extra play-off holes. The heat had taken its toll. A long drive back was still looming large. So we decided to head off and beat the traffic. As we walked past the practice green, we were back to the peace and quiet of before. On the putting green was Peter Lawrie with his caddy. Waiting for the start of the play off. He was being watched by two young Spanish kids. "Cap please" asked one of them. The other wasn't amused. "Ha prometido a mi!". With which Lawrie pointed to his cap and then to the young lad he had already promised it to. Not a trace of nerves at the prospect of playing extra holes to win what would be his first European tour win.
Lawrie won the title on the second play-off hole, after Garrido had spun his ball off the green into the lake. The first hole sounded exciting, both players birding the hole, Lawrie with a great 30 footer. Perhaps we should have stayed to the end. But then, the best bits for me where the quieter moments.
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