It’s the Monday before the first Major of your life. You’re playing the Chevron Championship. No less. The closest thing to the Masters de Augusta in the women’s version. You’re hitting balls on the practice range and suddenly you’re told that Carlota Ciganda wants to say hello. Not only that, but the Navarrese makes you an offer: “in half an hour I’m going out to play nine practice holes, do you want to join?”. This is exactly what happened to Carla Bernat yesterday.
As a baptism of fire, it doesn’t sound bad at all. For Carla, obviously, it’s an honour, but she thinks the experience is going to be ruined. “The problem is that my caddie hasn’t arrived yet, so I can’t go out to play,” she replies. No need to panic, Carlota quickly finds a solution. “Here’s James (Carlota’s boyfriend and regular caddie on the LPGA Tour). He can accompany you if you want.” Carla’s face lights up and she heads straight to the 1st tee. She doesn’t want to waste a minute.
The two Spaniards playing this first Major of the year play the first nine holes of the Jack Nicklaus Signature Course, at The Club at Carlton Woods, The Woodlands, Texas. The last thing Carlota wants to do is overwhelm or intimidate. She gives her space and freedom. That’s why, on the 1st tee, she reassures Carla: “you can ask me anything about the course or golf, but I’m not going to tell you anything myself so as not to overwhelm you or give you more information than you want or need. But whatever you ask me, I’m happy to help.”
Carlota notices that Carla is a bit nervous. It’s the most normal thing in the world. First Major of your career and you have the chance to play with one of your idols and role models, a player who is going to play her 65th Major. Tremendous. The Navarrese tells her to relax, that they’re going to enjoy it, and asks her about her exceptional victory in the Augusta National Amateur Championship. There’s no better way to break the ice. Carlota and Carla know each other. The one from Ulzama was at a training camp for Spanish amateurs a couple of years ago in the Spanish Levante and Carla was there, but they have barely interacted.
The conversation continues naturally. Carla asks Carlota about the schedule. Basically, she asks for a recommendation on what is the ideal number of tournaments to play in a season once you turn professional. The double LPGA Tour champion and last winner of the Open de España responds with her usual common sense and prudence: “I can tell you what I like, but it doesn’t have to be a rule. That’s something you have to discover for yourself. It depends on your preferences, the stage of life you’re in. You’ll come to that conclusion gradually. I now hardly play more than three consecutive weeks, but before it was quite a bit more,” she explains.
The highlight of the round comes at the 8th hole, a par 5. They’ve hit two very good drives. Carlota is a bit longer than Carla. The 21-year-old from Castellón hits a spectacular wood for her second shot and leaves it four metres for eagle. Great shot. A statement of intent. It’s a practice round, but she plays with intensity. There are no casual games for Bernat. Next, it’s Carlota’s turn. She has a 4-iron in her hands and nails it. Extraordinary shot. Two metres away. Carla misses her putt and Carlota sinks hers.
Don’t think that the player who made history at Augusta is daunted. It’s not in her character. On the 9th hole, a par 4, she hits a stratospheric shot and leaves it a handspan away for birdie. Sensational. “What I’ve seen of Carla I like a lot. She has grit, determination, and you can tell she wants to make it. She’s super focused and long. She’s strong. She’ll have to get used to the fact that this is a Major. What’s normal for her is to hit a lot of wedges for her second shot in the NCAA, as it happened to me when I was an amateur, but here you have to hit 7 and 6 irons. She’s going all out and is aggressive, I like her character,” Ciganda tells Ten Golf.
Carla has been wide-eyed for a couple of days. She’s been given a special Callaway bag with her name and the Spanish flag, she’s been amazed by the locker room and is delighted with the treatment given to all the players at a Major like the Chevron. It’s another league. The best thing is that she has a luxury guide who will be there for her whenever she needs it.
