The Open de Madrid will be played for the 30th time on The European Tour International Schedule in 2004 with Club de Campo hosting the event for a fourth successive season from October 21-24.
The announcement means that Spain will host the last three Volvo Order of Merit tournaments on The 2004 European Tour International Schedule with the Turespaña Mallorca Classic at Pula GC, Majorca, the previous week from October 14-17 and the season-ending Volvo Masters Andalucia at Club de Golf Valderrama, Sotogrande, from October 28-31.
Following last month’’s Open de Sevilla and the Canarias Open de España, won by Ricardo Gonzalez of Argentina and Christian Cévaër of France respectively, and the return to the country from November 18-21 for the World Golf Championships – World Cup, Spain will be hosting no fewer than six events on The 2004 European Tour International Schedule. The Open de Madrid will be promoted by Amen Corner.
Ken Schofield, Executive Director of The European Tour, said: “We are delighted to announce a sixth tournament in Spain with the Open de Madrid. We congratulate Amen Corner for promoting this tournament and express out gratitude to Club de Campo for hosting this event for a fourth successive season.
“This event has consistently produced high drama and great theatre and I know all our Members will relish a return to Club de Campo in October.”
The past three editions of the event at Club de Campo have proved a huge success. In 2001, Retief Goosen of South Africa won the title, beating England’’s Steve Webster at the third hole of a sudden-death play-off after the pair tied on 20 under par 264, and in the process sealed the Volvo Order of Merit title for the first time.
The following year Denmark’’s Steen Tinning recorded his second victory on The European Tour International Schedule, a closing 67 giving him a 19 under par total of 265 and a one shot victory over Scotland’’s Andrew Coltart, Brian Davis of England and Australian Adam Scott.
In 2003, it was the turn of Gonzalez when he produced the biggest final round comeback on The 2003 European Tour International Schedule, coming from six strokes behind on the final day. A 72 hole total of 270, 14 under par, left him one stroke clear of England’’s Paul Casey, Ireland’’s Padraig Harrington, Australia’’s Nick O’’Hern and Maarten Olander of Sweden.
Designed by Javier Arana in 1932 and redesigned by Seve Ballesteros in 1994, Club de Campo has earned a reputation as one of the finest courses in Spain. In addition to hosting the Open de Madrid, Club de Campo has also hosted the Open de España on eight occasions, the first of which was one by the 1951 Open Champion Max Faulkner of England in 1957. Since then Spain’’s Sebastian Miguel (1960), Sam Torrance of Scotland (1982), Australian Rodger Davis (1990), Argentina’’s Eduardo Romero (1991), Scotland’’s Colin Montgomerie (1994), Ballesteros (1995) and Harrington (1996) have all won at Club de Campo.
