Whilst Alvaro Velasco still has some way to go before emulating the momentous feats of his predecessor as winner of the Challenge Tour Rankings, a tie for fourth place at last week’s Omega Dubai Desert Classic was a hugely encouraging step in the right direction.
Coincidentally, the man Velasco is hoping to mimic, namely 2009 Challenge Tour Rankings winner Edoardo Molinari of Italy, also announced his renaissance by finishing fourth at the same event 12 months ago.
If the Spaniard can scale similar heights this season – Molinari went on to secure two European Tour titles, before playing his part in Europe’s thrilling Ryder Cup victory over their American counterparts – Velasco’s naturally sunny disposition will burn ever brighter.
One of the 30 year old’s stated aims after winning the Rankings last season was not only to follow Molinari into the winner’s enclosure on The European Tour, but also into the top 50 of the Official World Golf Ranking.
Velasco has a long way to go before he can achieve the latter ambition – some 115 places, to be precise – but given that he started the year down in 220th, whilst Molinari was languishing in 653rd before he launched his meteoric rise up the World Ranking, anything is possible.
Few observers who witnessed Velasco’s imperious performances on the Challenge Tour last season, when he collected €134,297 in earnings thanks largely to a brace of victories in the Canary Islands and Kazakhstan, would have been surprised with his dazzling display in Dubai.
Velasco struggled at the outset, opening with a round of 74 which, in days gone by, might have heralded a period of introspection for a player whose confidence, by his own admission, did not always match his natural talent.
But having restored his belief on the Challenge Tour last term Velasco is now a far more redoubtable character and a much grittier competitor, as witnessed by his flawless round of 70 in gusting winds on day two at the Emirates Golf Club.
At that point he was still some 11 shots off the lead held by Rory McIlroy, but a best-of-the-day round of 65 in benign conditions on the third morning saw Velasco surge through the pack and into a tie for second place, just one stroke behind the Northern Irishman and his co-leaders Thomas Aiken and Anders Hansen.
Although he was ultimately unable to prevent his close friend and namesake Alvaro Quiros from taking the title, a closing round of 70 – which featured three consecutive birdies to finish – saw Velasco pocket a cheque for €76,786 and climb to 28th in The Race to Dubai.
Velasco, whose beloved Barcelona played Arsenal in the Champions League on Wednesday night, will now hope to build on his bright start to the season at this week’s Avantha Masters, where he is playing alongside hot property Gaganjeet Bhullar, a fellow Challenge Tour champion, for the first two rounds.
Thereafter he will fly home to spend some time with his wife Marta, a dentist he married two years ago, and watch the two World Golf Championships on television.
But given his drive and determination to succeed, and the improvements he has made to his short game over the past 12 months, it would be no surprise to see Velasco teeing up alongside the likes of Molinari and Quiros in WGC events in the very near future.
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