Valderrama is no longer the venue for the Masters, says PGA

Venue 'to be confirmed' · Junta withdraws backing

SAN ROQUE / Sotogrande The Masters is due to be played in October, but it looks like it will not be held at Valderrama, the much-vaunted 'best course on the continent'. The Masters is the last of the European PGA Tour. To use a generous euphemism, the PGA website lists the tournament venue as TBA (to be announced) at this late date. It also offers the news that it will be played in Spain. Indications are that the €3m prize money are the problem. And that, say reliable sources, is because the Junta de Andalucía (last year the tournament was called the Andalucía Masters, and before that, the Volvo Masters) has re->>>IN THE NEAR FUTURE YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO SEE THE REST OF THIS ITEM UNLESS YOU HAVE SUBSCRIBED. Subscription information will be available soon.

duced, not to say withdrawn, its sponsorship of major events in a big effort to cut down on expenses.

San Roque Mayor, Socialist Ruiz Boix has been chasing private sponsorship but his efforts have apparently been in vain, so it seems very likely that the Campo de Gibraltar will be without its annual major golf event. In terms of promotion and publicity, as well as local tourism, this is a major blow.

In December 2010, the Junta's Councillor for Tourism, Trade and Sport, Luciano Alonso, announced to the regional parliament that the Masterss at Valderrama was 'guaranteed for two more years' and 'the possibility of another two is there as well.'