May 23, 2006

Defending the title

Talks with the Master - Roberto De Vicenzo

The loudest scream in Angel Cabrera´s career took place a year ago with his success in the BMW Championship. In that opportunity, Córdoba´s player carded 273 shots and beated the Irish Paul Mc Ginley by two shots. Such success was translated in 666.660 euros in prize money, the highest reward of his career. From Thursday in the course at Wentworth Club, ¨el Pato¨ will defend the most important title of the Old Continent after the British Open.

_ How does a player face a tournament in which he has to defend the crown?

_ With motivation and commitment, sensations that ¨el Pato¨ will have when he tees off from hole 1. Two quests merge: the illusion to repeat last year success and the duty to become the protagonist once more. In these cases, the optimism prevails.

_ Which will be the key factor for Angel to have a good performance at Wentworth Club?

_ I think that it will all depend on how he finishes the first round. If he is able to stay with the first group and after the second day he continues up, he will become a menace impossible to stop during the weekend. But if he staggers in the first 18 holes, he will run the risk of not qualifying.

_ However, the Dannish Thomas Björn won yesterday in the Irish Open with a first round of 78 shots.

_ Yes, we don´t have to take it into account as it was a troubled tournament that was interrupted several times due to the rain. It seems to me that anyone could have won this tournament. Björn was benefited because, at some points, he played with good weather conditions while others had to put up with wind and rain for 11 or 12 holes. What I´m sure about is that, in normal weather conditions, no player wins with 78 shots in the first round.

_ Going back to Cabrera, in which ways do you think a new triumph could influence him?

_ It would be a way of experimenting a huge boost for a season in which up to now his highest achievement was the eighth place in the Augusta Masters. He has not had good perfomances in Europe and obviously, he would like to revert the story.

_ Which are the greatest challenges of the course at Wentworth club?

_ The out of bounds in holes 15 and 17, if I remember right. Anyway, Cabrera feels very comfortable in this course as it favours his game. To ratify this idea, I read somewhere that Angel said this course is one of his favourites due to his golf experience all around the world.

_ The most convincing performance of the last week was the 5º place of Rafael Echenique in the Telenet Trophy played in Houthalen, Belgium.

_ What I like about Echenique is that he works silently, he is persistent and he has a great future because he participates in all tournaments. That is the only way to progress. Even though, he didn´t win in Belgium, he achieved an interesting position.

_ Severiano Ballesteros announced his intention to return to play in the next British Open that will be held in Royal Liverpool Golf Club in Hoylake from July 20th to 23th. Do you think he will be able to succeed ?

_ I hope he does, but actually I don´t think he can make it. Even though he states he is well-trained and his back is better now, it will be difficult for him to recover his level. He has 49 and ; in my opinion, he should start thinking about playing in the seniour tour than in the regular tour.

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