Miguel Angel Jiménez, whose company MAJ Group promotes the Open de Andalucia Costa del Sol, is confident that Aloha Golf Club will deliver another sucessful staging of the tournament.
The 18-time European Tour champion said: “Aloha is a great golf course, so I’m sure all the guys will really enjoy playing there. I was there three weeks ago and it was in perfect condition, so hopefully we’ll have some good weather and everyone can have a great week.
"It can sometimes be quite a stressful week because I have so much going on, but I always have a really good time, and I’m sure this year will be no different.
“It’s always great to be a part of the tournament. I’ve been involved for the last six years now, and I’m very pleased with how it’s grown in that time. I wanted to give something back to the region and to the Tour, and the tournament’s the perfect way of doing that.
"I was born and raised in Andalucía, so I’m very proud of where I come from, and helping to organise the tournament is something that I love to do. It’s great for the region and great for the Tour, so I’m really looking forward to the week.”
The event has attracted another strong field, with three Major champions in action: Rich Beem of America, New Zealand’s Michael Campbell and Canadian Mike Weir. The number should have been five, but 1999 Open Champion, and Open de Andalucia Costa del Sol defending champion Paul Lawrie, was forced to withdraw from the tournament through illness, while a foot injury has robbed the tournament of two time Masters Champion and current European Ryder Cup Captain Jose Maria Olazabal.
Of Jiménez’s fellow Spaniards, recent European Tour champions Rafael Cabrera-Bello, Pablo Larrazábal and Pablo Martin perhaps represent the host nation’s best hopes of securing a home victory for the first time in the tournament’s history.
