Andalucia Valderrama Masters Leaderboard, Preview, TV Times

Sergio Garcia hosts and defends the Andalucia Valderrama Masters this week

Andalucia Valderrama Masters
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Sergio Garcia hosts and defends the Andalucia Valderrama Masters this week

Andalucia Valderrama Masters Leaderboard, Preview, TV Times

The Andalucia Valderrama Masters hosted by the Sergio Garcia Foundation returns this week with Ryder Cup record points scorer Sergio Garcia hosting, headlining and defending the title at Valderrama.

The Spaniard makes his first start since Le Golf National here in a tournament that he has won in the last two playings.

The Andalucia Valderrama Masters began in 2010 but this is only the fourth edition.

Graeme McDowell won the inaugural event before Garcia won in both 2011 and 2017.

Garcia capped an incredible 2017 with victory at Valderrama last year after winning the Dubai Desert Classic and his maiden major title at Augusta earlier in the year.

Sergio is joined in the field this week by European Ryder Cup Captain Thomas Bjorn who tees it up alongside Vice Captains Lee WestwoodPadraig Harrington and Robert Karlsson.

Valderrama is a happy hunting ground for Sergio Garcia. (Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images)

Barring those, it is not the strongest field with just one player from the European Ryder Cup side competing, and that is defending champion and host Garcia.

Last time out, Garcia beat Joost Luiten by a stroke to win his 14th European Tour title.

The course at Valderrama is one of Spain’s best-known having hosted 16 Volvo Masters, the 1997 Ryder Cup, the Valderrama Masters of 2010 and 2011 and the 2016 Open de Espana.

Constructed in 1974 by Robert Trent Jones Snr, it was expanded and improved when the club was acquired by Jaime Ortiz-Patiño in 1984.

Further alterations were made for the 2016 Open de Espana when cork trees were pruned on a number of holes.

Sergio Garcia defends and hosts Valderrama Masters

Sergio Garcia won the tournament in 2011 as well

It is renowned as one of the most difficult courses in the world and always poses a stern challenge to competitors.

The tournament is set to benefit charities supported by the Sergio Garcia Foundation. All funds raised from this year's tournament will go towards interior design project for an X-ray unit in the Hospital Universitario La Paz, Madrid.

The weather forecast looks like it could be slightly wet on Thursday and Friday but nicer for the weekend with highs of 21 celsius.

Expand Eddie Pepperell What’s In The Bag?

Green Reading Books

Eddie Pepperell What’s In The Bag?

Take a look inside the golf bag of…

Expand Restrictions On Green Reading Books Announced

Green Reading Books

Restrictions On Green Reading Books Announced

Green reading books will be much less detailed…

Expand TaylorMade P760 Irons Revealed

TaylorMade P760 Irons Revealed

TaylorMade P760 Irons Revealed

Full details of the new TaylorMade P760 irons…

Expand British Masters Reportedly Not Returning In 2019

British Masters Reportedly Not Returning In 2019

British Masters Reportedly Not Returning In 2019

The European Tour are set to announce their…

Venue: Real Club Valderrama, Sotogrande, Spain Date: Oct 18-21 Course stats: par 71, 6,991 yards Purse: €2,000,000 (2017) Defending champion: Sergio Garcia (-12)

TV Coverage: Thursday 19 –Sky Sports Golf and Main Event from 11am, Sky Sports Golf and Main Event from 2.30pm Friday 20 –Sky Sports Golf and Main Event from 11am, Sky Sports Golf and Main Event from 2.30pm Saturday 21 –Sky Sports Golf from 1pm, Sky Sports Main Event 3.15pm Sunday 22 – Sky Sports Golf from 12.30pm

Player Watch:

Sergio Garcia – The tournament host won this event the last two times it was contested in 2017 and 2011 and is the overwhelming favourite this week.

Shane Lowry - The Irishman is second-favourite with the bookies after a decent British Masters which followed his sixth place finish in Portugal. Lowry was T12th here last year as well.

Joost Luiten - Runner-up here last time out, Luiten actually finished four clear of third place so was battling it out with Garcia down the stretch. He isn't on great form but returning to Valderrama may bring back good memories.

Key hole: 17th. A brilliant risk and reward par five. 536 yards with water short of the green so the approach must be perfect, anything a little too soft will roll back into the hazard.

Skills required: Course management and patience. Valderrama requires a tactical approach and damage limitation is often the order of the day. It’s not a course that generally produces low scoring.

Elliott Heath
News Editor

Elliott Heath is our News Editor and has been with Golf Monthly since early 2016 after graduating with a degree in Sports Journalism. He manages the Golf Monthly news team as well as our large Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages. He covered the 2022 Masters from Augusta National as well as five Open Championships on-site including the 150th at St Andrews. His first Open was in 2017 at Royal Birkdale, when he walked inside the ropes with Jordan Spieth during the Texan's memorable Claret Jug triumph. He has played 35 of our Top 100 golf courses, with his favourites being both Sunningdales, Woodhall Spa, Western Gailes, Old Head and Turnberry. He has been obsessed with the sport since the age of 8 and currently plays off of a six handicap. His golfing highlights are making albatross on the 9th hole on the Hotchkin Course at Woodhall Spa, shooting an under-par round, playing in the Aramco Team Series on the Ladies European Tour and making his one and only hole-in-one at the age of 15 - a long time ago now!


Elliott is currently playing:


Driver: Titleist TSR4

3 wood: Titleist TSi2

Hybrids: Titleist 816 H1

Irons: Mizuno MP5 5-PW

Wedges: Cleveland RTX ZipCore 50, 54, 58

Putter: Odyssey White Hot OG #5

Ball: Srixon Z Star XV