It feels so good to be back in Spain after such a long time. Great week in Madrid with incredible public support and I’m sure this week in Valderrama will also be very special. I want to talk to you about a very specific chapter of my life that I remember fondly, although it also had its somewhat strange point, or at least surprising for me at that time.
A few days ago I mentioned that I had once played golf with Rafa Nadal some time ago, well, today I want to tell you in detail how that match was. I think it’s an interesting and fun story to know who and how Rafa is and understand some of the reasons that have led him to be one of the best athletes in history.
The opportunity to play with Rafa Nadal comes through Ricardo Relinque. There was a time at that time when the possibility of someone from his team also working with me was being considered. I was at Uni, at Arizona State, and we went from San Diego to Palms Springs because Rafa was playing tennis in Palm Springs. We talked and he told us: “I play golf, so if you want to come we can play a game…”. Head first.
So it happened. We went to a place called Porcupine Creek. It’s the garden of Larry Ellison, co-founder of Oracle. It’s a very private club where the tennis people stay because Ellison is a lover of that sport. It’s one of the most exclusive clubs in the United States, well, exclusive to say something, it’s the next thing: basically you can only enter the club if he wants. It’s one of the most beautiful there is, in terms of care, maintenance, flowers… It’s amazing.
Rafa and I played and no one else, at least that’s what I remember, I don’t know if there was anyone else, but as for remembering, I was playing with Rafa Nadal, one of my great idols. To give you an idea, at that time the only book I had read in my life was his biography, so imagine, I was excited, saying wow I’m going to play with Rafa, lots of questions, what I’m going to learn… But that was quite different.
I found a Rafa Nadal in competition mode. In 18 holes he spoke to me minimally. He wanted to win and that’s it. And he beat me. I gave him eight strokes and on the 13th tee he was four under par from the field and I was one less. I remember it very well. I was thinking inside, but what a joke is this. And beware, playing from the same tee. It was my second year of University and he hits very hard, plays very well and, above all, is a great competitor, which is important. I tried to talk to him, ask him about the book and he… nothing, with maximum determination, thinking only about winning. It was curious and interesting…
