Adrian Meronk has also chosen the path of Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton to play the Estrella Damm Andalucía Masters. The Pole, therefore, will defend the title won last year at the Real Club de Golf de Sotogrande. The tournament takes place in three weeks, after the Spanish Open, Alfred Dunhill Links Championship and French Open.
Meronk has decided to appeal the sanction imposed by the DP World Tour, for the same reason as the rest of the LIV Golf players, that is, to play Saudi tour tournaments in weeks where there is a European Circuit tournament without the corresponding permission. In this way, his sanction is provisionally suspended until the judge issues a definitive sentence and in this time he can play DP World Tour tournaments without the obligation to pay the fines.
Meronk’s presence in Sotogrande was advanced by Guy Kinnings himself, the European Tour’s chief executive. Referring to Rahm and Hatton, he pointed out that after the appeal “the process continues. Meanwhile, we hope to have them playing in Spain next week, which will help the Spanish Open. We hope to see them both at the Alfred Dunhill and that means that Adrian can defend in Sotogrande for the Estrella Damm Andalucía Masters”, he explained this Sunday in statements to Nick Dougherty on Sky.
So, the Estrella Damm will have its defending champion, as well as Jon Rahm, who has already said on several occasions that his intention is to play the Sotogrande tournament. Unless he changes his mind, he will be part of it. We will see if any other LIV Golf player appears. David Puig also expressed his desire to play it whenever possible.
There is an important fact regarding the news of Meronk in Sotogrande. The Pole, unlike Hatton and Rahm, does not need to play the tournament to meet the DP World Tour minimum to maintain his membership and, consequently, be eligible for the Ryder Cup. Meronk already has five tournaments under his belt this season, the two from Australia and Dubai at the beginning of the course and the Olympics. That is, if he plays in Sotogrande it is because he wants to defend the title, which honours him.
