Ángel Ayora has signed a level par scorecard (71) in the first round of the Turkish Airlines Open, where he played alongside the European Ryder Cup team captain, Luke Donald, who had evidently decided to play with the young Andalusian. It wasn’t a result that stands out, of course, but Ayora passed the test for several reasons.
Firstly, because his round improved as it went on, and it’s reasonable to think that a captain can draw more and better conclusions from a round where not everything went smoothly. The main issue for Ayora this Thursday in Turkey was actually the putter. The Spaniard made four bogeys, all due to three-putts. Otherwise, Donald was able to assess firsthand the power of this player from tee to green and how far he hits with the driver in hand. He already knew the stats, but it’s different to see it in person.
Moreover, Ayora overcame a poor start, as he was two over par after the first four holes, and even missed good birdie opportunities. It’s not a bad indicator to impress a captain who, among other things, is well aware of the pressure his mere presence can exert. Last but not least, it should be added that the Spaniard appeared very calm on the course, despite this poor putting day.
Donald also took the opportunity to learn more about the young Spaniard. He approached Ayora on numerous occasions throughout the round, asking him all sorts of questions. In the end, everyone’s personality also plays a role when making an assessment.
We’ll see how things turn out tomorrow. It’s very true that Donald’s reconnaissance work with Ayora and other players doesn’t necessarily have to be related to the team that will be formed in a few months for the Ryder at Bethpage, but it’s also true that the Englishman already showed with the selection of Ludvig Aberg that he doesn’t hesitate when making choices if he believes the player in question is worth it. It seems that Ayora, like other candidates, still needs to step up in terms of results to truly be in the running, but whether they come or not, Donald has already advanced much of the groundwork firsthand.
