Open de Andalucía

This article is about the 2007–2012 golf tournament. For the Turespana Masters Open de Andalucia 1992–1995 and 1999, see Turespana Masters.
Open de Andalucia
Tournament information
LocationAndalusia, Spain
Established2007
Course(s)Aloha Golf Club
Par72
Length6,881 yards (6,292 m)
Tour(s)European Tour
FormatStroke play
Prize fund€1,000,000
Month playedMarch
Final year2012
Tournament record score
Aggregate263 Louis Oosthuizen (2010)
To par−20 Lee Westwood (2007)
Final champion
France Julien Quesne
Location map
Aloha GC is located in Spain
Aloha GC
Aloha GC
Location in Spain
Aloha GC is located in Andalusia
Aloha GC
Aloha GC
Location in Andalusia

The Open de Andalucia was a European Tour men's professional golf tournament which was played from 2007 to 2012. The event was held in the Andalusia region of Spain.

History

Between 1992 and 1995, and again in 1999, former European Tour event, the Turespana Masters, was held in the Andalusia region and titled as the Turespana Masters Open de Andalucia, with winners including future major champion and World Number 1 Vijay Singh, and local favourite Miguel Ángel Jiménez.

This incarnation of the Open de Andalucia owes its origins indirectly to the PGA Tour's decision to reschedule The Players Championship from March to May. In response, the European Tour decided to move the British Masters, which is one of its higher profile tournaments, from that same week in May to a September slot when more top players would be available. The Valle Romano Open de Andalucia was created to fill the gap in the schedule this move created. It has been promoted by the personal companies of the Spanish European Tour members Miguel Ángel Jiménez and Gonzalo Fernández-Castaño.

The first two events were staged at the Aloha Golf Club near Marbella, before the tournament was moved to the Real Club de Golf de Sevilla near Seville for the 2009 season at the request of sponsors.

At the 2009 Open de Andalucia, European Ryder Cup veteran Colin Montgomerie became the 18th player to reach the 500 appearance mark on the European Tour. He started the tournament impressively with a five under par 67, for a share of second place after the first round.[1] His challenge faded however, and he finished tied for 31st place at level-par, 14 strokes behind the winner, Søren Kjeldsen of Denmark. Kjeldsen had broken the course record with a 10-under-par 62 on Saturday to move into the lead, and a level-par final round of 72 on Sunday was enough to see off the challenge of Scot David Drysdale by three strokes.[2]

Winners

Year Winner Score To par Margin of
victory		 Runner(s)-up Winner's
share (€)		 Venue
Open de Andalucía Costa del Sol
2012 France Julien Quesne 271 −17 2 strokes Italy Matteo Manassero 166,660 Aloha
Open de Andalucía de Golf
2011 Scotland Paul Lawrie 268 −12 1 stroke Sweden Johan Edfors 166,660 Parador de Málaga Golf
2010 South Africa Louis Oosthuizen 263 −17 3 strokes England Richard Finch
Scotland Peter Whiteford		 166,660 Parador de Málaga Golf
Open de Andalucía
2009 Denmark Søren Kjeldsen 274 −14 3 strokes Scotland David Drysdale 166,660 Real Club de Golf de Sevilla
MAPFRE Open de Andalucía
2008 France Thomas Levet 272 −16 Playoff England Oliver Fisher 166,660 Aloha
Valle Romano Open de Andalucía
2007 England Lee Westwood 268 −20 2 strokes Sweden Fredrik Andersson Hed
England Phillip Archer		 166,660 Aloha

References

  1. ^ "Montgomerie shines in 500th event". BBC Sport. 26 March 2009. Retrieved 2009-03-27.
  2. ^ "Kjeldsen holds on for Seville win". BBC Sport. 29 March 2009. Retrieved 2009-03-29.