Carlota Ciganda and Azahara Muñoz are the queens. The benchmarks. They have 13 victories on the Ladies European Tour. Four wins on the LPGA. The Navarrese has top tens in all five Majors. The Malagueña has five top 20s. Nearly 20 finals on the American circuit. Four wins at the Andalucía Costa del Sol Open de España. They are everything. No golfer in the history of Spanish golf has the record of Carlota. Practically no one matches Azahara Muñoz. They are from the same generation and are here this week, at the Real Guadalhorce Golf Club, marking territory, reminding us of what they have done and what others coming up behind can do. There are many, and they have two beacons to follow. It has already been done. It can be repeated and, why not, it can be improved.
It is not yet time to pass the baton. Neither Carlota nor Azahara are willing. If they want to be removed from the spotlight, it will have to be fought for. They will not make it easy. The Navarrese remains a competitive beast. She is the guide, but she will not let herself be overtaken just like that. A lot must be done and done very well to leave behind the warrior from Ulzama. For all these reasons, there is no one better than Carlota or Azahara to make a prediction. Another generation is coming. As powerful as that of Azahara and Carlota, which also included Belén Mozo, María Hernández, or Bea Recari, but even more numerous. The female talent pool of Spanish golf is in excellent health, and the future looks bright. Bets are being placed on the practice ranges of this Málaga Open de España about how many Spaniards will have an LPGA Tour card in a few years. Let’s hear from the authorised voices.
Carlota hears the question from Ten Golf, stops on her way to the players lounge, and starts to think. She likes the challenge. She doesn’t speak without thinking. She doesn’t say a random number. In fact, her starting point is definitive to know she is taking it seriously. “But counting me?” she asks. Of course, with you. “Well, we’ll see because I don’t know if in five years I’ll still be around here…” she leaves hanging in the air.
“I think that in five years at least, at least, Spain will have five LPGA Tour cards,” she states. And she clarifies: “Hopefully in three years, I don’t rule it out, but it seems more difficult,” she notes. Five Spanish cards on the LPGA Tour is a serious matter. Carlota has been cautious. She truly believes it. She hasn’t said a random number. She could have been more populist, but she has thought it through. There will be time to get specific with the names, then we’ll add them ourselves to avoid hurting their feelings.
Azahara also knows what she’s talking about. She knows them and knows how difficult it is to reach the top of the American circuit. The Malagueña goes a bit further. In her opinion, it will be six cards on the LPGA, which would be an absolute record for Spanish golf. Where do we sign? She says it convinced, but without being held to her word. She doesn’t rule out there being fewer, but the most important thing is that she doesn’t rule out there being more…
Another authorised voice sharing her wisdom at Guadalhorce this week is Mar Ruiz de la Torre, vice president of the Royal Spanish Golf Federation and the person who has watched the latest great generations of Spanish golf grow from when they were barely knee-high, starting with Carlota and Azahara themselves. “I am sure that at least we will have six,” she states with great conviction. This remains a game. No one has a crystal ball to predict the future, but it is a true reflection of the hope placed in this great generation coming up, with great representatives this week at the Open de España like Andrea Revuelta, Adriana García Terol, and Paula Martín.
Neither Carlota, Azahara, nor Mar have given names, and it is understandable. That is up to us. We will take the flak. Note these six names: Carlota Ciganda, Julia López, Carolina López Chacarra, Carla Bernat, Paula Martín, and Carla Tejedo. And there is still a luxury bench so that the six seem very few: Andrea Revuelta, Cata Fernández, Fátima Fernández Cano, Adrian García Terol, Ángela Revuelta, Amanda Revuelta, Blanca Fernández… The future is theirs. Definitely, six seem too few, but it wouldn’t be bad at all. Enjoy this wonderful generational clash at the Open de España.
