Paula Martín is one of the seven Spaniards who will be part of the start of the Augusta National Women’s Amateur tomorrow. The young woman from Madrid, who is facing her first year at Stanford, seeks to emulate, why not, the steps of Rose Zhang, a colleague from the same university, considered the best amateur in history and who won the tournament last year weeks before turning professional. Stanford and Augusta understand each other perfectly and if not, just ask Tiger Woods. Paula seeks to prolong the romance, make the cut and enjoy the last day of competition at Augusta National. If we are to dream, let’s dream of fighting for victory until the last moment. It won’t be for lack of play.
We must not generate excessive pressure, nor raise expectations above what is necessary, but the reality is that Paula is one of our safest bets. At 18, she is ranked 22nd in the world amateur ranking and her landing at Stanford is practically unbeatable. Since she arrived in September, the Spaniard has played five tournaments and her worst result is a seventh place. In the last two tournaments she has played, she has flirted very closely with victory, finishing second and third.
Who said that the first year is for landing? The Madrid woman is a couple of steps ahead and is even enjoying it: “My first year at Stanford is being incredible. I am very happy with the team, the studies, the experiences I am living and the people I have met. I am trying to enjoy everything as much as possible. I am very happy with my game in these months and I am eager to give it my all in postseason”. A very regular and very solid player, that is undeniable and something very necessary in the tough test she faces from tomorrow. Her average in the last six months is around 70.2 strokes per round.
Paula’s goal for the week? To enjoy, but without setting barriers, it is her first year in the tournament but she feels capable of moving in the top positions: “I arrive at the ANWA eager to enjoy and with high expectations. It is a tournament that I have been aspiring to for a couple of years and the fact of being here is already a dream come true. It is the first time I play the tournament, the Champions Retreat is a quite demanding course and from Augusta National, what can I say, an absolute wonder. I am looking forward to playing the Amen Corner, the par 3 hole 16 and hole 18, and one of the objectives is to be able to compete in the last round of the tournament at Augusta National”, summarizes the Spanish player.
Dreams are fulfilled through a lot of effort and Paula knows that now it is time to squeeze it to the maximum. That is why the Madrid woman will not be alone. To get where she is, many people have sacrificed a lot and now it is time to share the experience with them: “My parents, my brother, my sister and some close friends of ours who are responsible for me playing golf are coming to the ANWA… so it will be very special to be able to share this week with them”. In fact, it will be her brother Jorge who will carry the clubs for her the first two days at the Champions Retreat. If she makes the cut and plays the last round of the tournament at Augusta National, it will probably be a local caddy who will carry the clubs for her. Speaking of clubs, the Spaniard changed them at the end of last year, she admits that she is delighted with the change and perfectly adapted to it. We will see if this week we can see the best version of a debutante who comes ready for everything.
