The Volvo Masters Andalucia will return to its original venue of Club de Golf, Valderrama, Sotogrande, Spain, for three years commencing with the 15th edition of the season-ending tournament from November 7-10, 2002.
Valderrama first hosted the Volvo Masters Andalucia in 1988, when Nick Faldo triumphed with a total of 284. The drive for quality and presentation spearheaded by owner Jaime Ortiz-Patiño and supported by Volvo, led to the development of a course that within six years was voted as the best on mainland Europe.
Valderrama quickly acquired a reputation for excellence and won the right to host The 32nd Ryder Cup Matches in 1997 and the World Golf Championships-American Express Championship in 1999 and 2000. During that period, the Volvo Masters Andalucia moved to the Montecastillo Hotel & Golf Resort in Jerez.
Five editions of the Volvo Masters Andalucia were played there between 1997 and 2001 but the event now returns to Valderrama. Commenting on the move back to the Costa del Sol, Mel Pyatt, President and Chief Executive Officer of Volvo Event Management said: "Returning to Valderrama marks a new and exciting chapter in the life of the Volvo Masters Andalucia.
"Together with our partners, the Junta de Andalucia and Valderrama, we intend to develop every aspect of the tournament to new levels of excellence, with a vision of it becoming firmly established as a truly world golfing event.
"However, whilst looking forward is always exciting, I must at this point also look back and thank Montecastillo Hotel & Golf Resort for the support they have given Volvo over the last five years and although we are obviously sad to be leaving, we are confident Montecastillo will continue to grow and prosper in forthcoming years."
Jaime Ortiz-Patiño, President of Valderrama, is equally pleased to be welcoming the Volvo Masters Andalucia back to his Club. He said: "Since I first met with Mel Pyatt in 1987 to discuss the possibility of holding the Volvo Masters Andalucia here, we have shared a vision of quality and excellence which has reflected positively on Valderrama, Volvo and The European Tour and I am delighted that we can now continue our quest.
"Needless to say, I am eagerly anticipating the next three exciting years with the challenges and opportunities they will bring."
Ken Schofield, Executive Director, The European Tour, said: "The European Tour is delighted to be returning to such a distinguished and world renowned venue in Valderrama.
"The vision of Jaime Ortiz-Patiño, coupled with the drive and commitment of Mel Pyatt at Volvo, helped to bring the Volvo Masters Andalucia to Valderrama for the first time in 1988 with a prize fund of £350,000.
"In 2001, the Volvo Masters Andalucia was worth £2,000,000 when Padraig Harrington won so superbly at Montecastillo Hotel and Golf Resort and we take this opportunity to thank everyone at Montecastillo for their great support over the past five years and look forward to going back there in the future.
"We recall with great affection The 32nd Ryder Cup Matches, which were staged at Valderrama so successfully and which ended with a victory for The European Team captained by Spain's Severiano Ballesteros and we look forward to being back in familiar surroundings for the 2002 Volvo Masters Andalucia."
