Even with his vast experience in the game, Matt Kuchar believes he will learn a lot from playing at Real Club de Golf Sotogrande as he tees it up in the Estrella Damm N.A. Andalucía Masters.
The nine-time PGA TOUR winner forms part of a strong field in southern Spain as he makes his first appearance in the country.
The tournament moves to a new venue at Real Club de Golf Sotogrande for the ninth edition of the event, completing a two-week Spanish swing following the acciona Open de Espana presented by Madrid.
This week’s host venue has a long history of hosting prestigious events, namely the European Nations Cup – Copa Sotogrande which boasts Major Champions Rory McIlroy, Shane Lowry and Francesco Molinari among its past winners.
The course, known for it's strategic elevation changes, water hazards and bunkering, has undergone a renovation in 2015 and 2016, with four-time Ryder Cup player Kuchar expecting a different test to what he is used to.
“There are a number of unique tee shots that I don’t feel like we don’t see very often on the PGA TOUR,” the 45-year-old said.
“With the elevation changes here and the severity of the dog-legs, trying to figure out whether or not to be aggressive and cut a corner or lay-up is a challenge.
“I feel like there’s a bit of a learning curve, I guess for everybody playing a competitive tournament here, but trying to figure out off the tee.
“There are still three or four holes where I’m still thinking do I lay up or do I pull drive and try and cut the corner.
“There are a couple of those where I’m anxious to see where the week progresses and to look back to see where more birdies come from than others.”
Kuchar, who won the most recent of his nine PGA TOUR titles at the Sony Open in Hawaii in early 2019, says the Sotogrande layout reminds him of internationally renowned venues like Torrey Pines.
“The topography here is beautiful – it reminds me a lot of Southern California,” he added.
“You’ve got mountains, you’ve got the ocean, you’ve got palm trees, it’s a pretty special place.
"The weather seems to be great, although they say tomorrow is not going to be quite as good.
“I’m excited to be here. The weather we’ve had the last few days, the scenery that’s around."
