The International Federation of PGA Tours is delighted to announce that the Real Club de Golf de Seville will host the 2004 World Golf Championships – World Cup. A total of 24 nations will participate in this prestigious event on November 18-21 with minimum prize money of US$4,000,000.
Confirmation that the Real Club de Golf of Seville would host the 2004 World Golf Championships – World Cup came with the signing of contracts between The International Federation of PGA Tours, the Institute of Sports of the Town Hall of Seville and the Real Club de Golf de Seville.
This will be the first time that the World Golf Championships – World Cup has been played in Europe since in 2000 the event came under the umbrella of the World Golf Championships and underwent a title and format change.
Ken Schofield, Executive Director of The European Tour, commented on behalf of the International Federation of PGA Tours: “We congratulate the Real Club de Golf of Seville on their strong and successful bid to host the World Golf Championships – World Cup. The World Golf Championships are played on many of the greatest courses in the world, and we are delighted to add the Real Club de Golf de Seville to the list of outstanding host venues and to be playing on a course designed by José Maria Olazábal.
“The World Cup has held an esteemed position since first it was played as the Canada Cup in 1953. The event has without question promoted the game worldwide, and we look forward to another superb competition in Spain in the knowledge that the famous city of Seville has a wonderful history of hosting events of worldwide interest.”
Pablo de los Santos, Sport Councillor of the Town Hall of Seville, said: “Seville’s desire to host international golf has been realised by the decision of the International Federation of PGA Tours to bring the best of the best in world golf to our city which we know will provide global interest and encourage tourism. We also know that the election of Seville was supported by its reputation for organising and hosting great sporting events as well as the fact that our people have a great love and respect for tradition.”
Claudia Hernandez, Chief Executive of Real Club de Golf de Seville, said: “We are naturally exhilarated to be awarded host venue status for the 2004 World Golf Championships – World Cup, and very excited that the International Federation of PGA Tours has awarded this event to Europe and specifically Spain. Seville has a proud history of hosting prestigious international sporting events and our club will be equally proud to welcome 48 of the best golfers in the world from 24 nations. We look forward to working with the International Federation of PGA Tours and we would particularly like to thank at this time Javier Gervás, the Manager of Matchgolf, with whom we have worked in the past few months to bring this project to fruition.”
The World Cup of Golf became the fourth event of the World Golf Championships when in 2000 the International Federation of PGA Tours entered into an agreement with The International Golf Association, the organisation which operated the World Cup from 1953, whereby the Federation sanctioned the World Cup of Golf.
This will be the 12th time since 1953 that the event – first played as the Canada Cup – has been played in Europe and the fifth time it has taken place in Spain. South Africa (Harold Henning and Gary Player) won at Club de Campo, Madrid, in 1965; the United States (Johnny Miller and Jack Nicklaus) won at Las Brisas, Marbella, in 1973; Australia (Peter Fowler and Wayne Grady) won at Las Brisas in 1989; and the United States (Fred Couples and Davis Love III) won at La Moraleja, Madrid, in 1992.
Spain share with Australia and South Africa the distinction of having won the event four times: Seve Ballesteros and Manuel Piñero at Palm Springs, California, in 1976; Seve Ballesteros and Antonio Garrido at Wack Wack, Manila, Philippines in 1977; José Maria Cañizares and Manuel Piñero at Pierre Marques, Acapulco, Mexico, in 1982; and José Maria Cañizares and José Rivero won at Olgiata, Rome, Italy, in 1984.
The United States have won a record 23 times with David Duval and Tiger Woods successful at Buenos Aires, Argentina, in 2000 when first the World Cup was played as a World Golf Championships event. Ernie Els and Retief Goosen won for South Africa at The Taiheiyo Club, Japan, in 2001 and Toshimitsu Izawa and Shigeki Maruyama won for Japan on the Vista Vallarta course at Puerto Vallarta in Mexico in 2002. The 2003 World Golf Championships – World Cup is being hosted by Kiawah Island, South Carolina, United States.
The Real Club de Golf de Seville course was designed by José Maria Olazábal and opened in 1992. It is located at Montequinto, three kilometres south of Seville. The course measures 6953 yards, 6381 metres with a par of 72.
The course provides a demanding examination with four large lakes strategically located coming into play at several holes and the undulating greens protected by well placed bunkers of which there are 96 in total.
At 447 yards (409 metres) the second is considered the most difficult hole on the course. The third (169 yards; 155 metres) is played from an elevated tee to a green surrounded by three lakes although the 11th (191 yards; 175 metres) is considered to be the most difficult of the four par threes with the very small green protected by five bunkers.
The 14th (339 yards; 310 metres) offers the opportunity for players to drive the green, although with water protecting the left side a more conservative tee shot might be appropriate as this hole launches a tough finish with the 15th (436 yards; 399 metres) a truly testing hole and the 18th (424 yards; 388 metres) flanked by water on both sides.
José Maria Olazábal said: “The 15th can play tougher than any hole on the course, depending on the direction and strength of the wind, and it starts a really interesting finish. The 16th is a reachable par five where there will be lots of birdies, and some eagles; the 17th is a tough par three and at the 18th we have planned to narrow the fairway which will make that hole more difficult.
“It was the second course that I designed and I like to think that it sets an examination for all players since you need to play a variety of shots. You certainly need to use every club in the bag and in my mind while the par fives are reachable, the par threes and par fours are all very testing.
“In other words there are holes to attack and holes where you need to protect your score. The course is in a wonderful area, the weather will be brilliant and I think everyone who comes to the event will love Seville. It is a fantastic city, very exciting with lots to see and do.”
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the World Golf Championships - World Cup, and its fourth as part of the World Golf Championships series. The World Cup is one of four World Golf Championships, which are sanctioned and organized by the International Federation of PGA Tours, which includes the Asian PGA, European Tour, Japan Golf Tour, PGA TOUR, PGA Tour of Australasia and Southern Africa Tour. The other World Golf Championships include the Accenture Match Play Championship, American Express Championship and NEC Invitational. For more information, please visit www.worldgolfchampionships.com.
