SIKHIO, Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand: Carlos Balmaseda believes the Spanish contingent will be extra motivated to perform well at the only Seve Ballesteros-designed course in Thailand when the inaugural Mountain Creek Open that gets under way on Tuesday.
“Of course, Seve is in all our thoughts and prayers. He was one of a kind and an incredible champion, the best golfer the world has ever seen,” said Balmaseda, who is also a MENA Golf Tour ambassador.
“If a Spaniard can go on and win this week, it will be a great tribute to Seve, who would have turned 59 on May 7. Few golfers have ever been as charismatic and imaginative as Seve. We all miss him,” he added.
“With long par-4s and dog-legs, the course, in typically Seve fashion, makes a statement about the challenge that the whole course presents. It will be a big week for us,” said Balmeseda, who himself was present at Madrid’s La Paz hospital when Seve underwent a brain tumor operation in 2008.
“We look forward to a great week and hope his memories will inspire us to achieve some great results,” 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 of what golf in Thailand has to offer.
Supported by Golf Citizen, the tournament will see a collection of international players, representing 18 countries, join some of Thailand emerging talent, underscoring the tour’s resolve to develop and promote the game across the region and beyond with the aim of producing a future generation of champions.
Spearheaded by Craig Hinton, who is currently placed fourth on the Order of Merit, the English players lead the field with 22 entries followed by seven each from Spain, Sweden and Scotland.
“The course is very testing and demanding and requires a sound strategy off the tee. In other words it means it’s not a driver every hole and 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,” said the Scotsman, who is a former Asian tour player.
“If you missed the fairway, it can be punishing. So, it will be crucial to hit straight and keep the ball in play. At the end of the day, chipping and putting will hold the key to success here.
An initiative of the Shaikh Maktoum Golf Foundation, the MENA Golf Tour was created in 2011 with the aim of developing golf in the region. It is affiliated to R&A, the worldwide golf governing body based in the home of golf, St. Andrews, and the Arab Golf Federation and enjoys the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) status.
Multiple European Tour starts, including the Omega Dubai Desert Classic, the Hassan II Trophy and the Maybank Championship Malaysia in addition to full playing privileges on the Sunshine Tour and exemptions into the Final Stage of the Asian Tour Q-School for the leading three professionals are some of the added incentives for the MENA Golf Tour members.
“Of course, Seve is in all our thoughts and prayers. He was one of a kind and an incredible champion, the best golfer the world has ever seen,” said Balmaseda, who is also a MENA Golf Tour ambassador.
“If a Spaniard can go on and win this week, it will be a great tribute to Seve, who would have turned 59 on May 7. Few golfers have ever been as charismatic and imaginative as Seve. We all miss him,” he added.
“With long par-4s and dog-legs, the course, in typically Seve fashion, makes a statement about the challenge that the whole course presents. It will be a big week for us,” said Balmeseda, who himself was present at Madrid’s La Paz hospital when Seve underwent a brain tumor operation in 2008.
“We look forward to a great week and hope his memories will inspire us to achieve some great results,” 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 of what golf in Thailand has to offer.
Supported by Golf Citizen, the tournament will see a collection of international players, representing 18 countries, join some of Thailand emerging talent, underscoring the tour’s resolve to develop and promote the game across the region and beyond with the aim of producing a future generation of champions.
Spearheaded by Craig Hinton, who is currently placed fourth on the Order of Merit, the English players lead the field with 22 entries followed by seven each from Spain, Sweden and Scotland.
“The course is very testing and demanding and requires a sound strategy off the tee. In other words it means it’s not a driver every hole and 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,” said the Scotsman, who is a former Asian tour player.
“If you missed the fairway, it can be punishing. So, it will be crucial to hit straight and keep the ball in play. At the end of the day, chipping and putting will hold the key to success here.
An initiative of the Shaikh Maktoum Golf Foundation, the MENA Golf Tour was created in 2011 with the aim of developing golf in the region. It is affiliated to R&A, the worldwide golf governing body based in the home of golf, St. Andrews, and the Arab Golf Federation and enjoys the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) status.
Multiple European Tour starts, including the Omega Dubai Desert Classic, the Hassan II Trophy and the Maybank Championship Malaysia in addition to full playing privileges on the Sunshine Tour and exemptions into the Final Stage of the Asian Tour Q-School for the leading three professionals are some of the added incentives for the MENA Golf Tour members.
