Not even ten minutes have passed since Luis Masaveu signed his fourth and final card at the Open Championship, but the Madrid-born player already has a clear and quick understanding of what this week has taught him. He has enjoyed it, he knows how to value what he has experienced and, in addition, he takes home a very concrete idea of where his main margin for improvement lies.
Masaveu said goodbye with a score of 76 strokes this Sunday and a final result of +18. Really, it’s the least of it. Once again, the nine seconds have seemed long to him, although today he hit the ball better than yesterday. Fatigue takes its toll and he admits it quickly: “I’m very tired,” he says without too much beating around the bush.
However, the most important thing this week, beyond having proven to himself that he has the ability to make the cut in a Major like the Open, under very difficult conditions and without having his best game, which is no small feat, are the lessons he takes home. What he can squeeze out of this experience that is not within everyone’s reach.
Masaveu assures that he realized on Saturday afternoon while watching the round on television. It’s about distance control. The best in the world are very good in this area, ultimately decisive to be able to make birdies and avoid problems. “Distance control is basic and I have to improve in that area to get closer to what I’ve seen this week. They are very good. You have to bounce it right on the spot to give yourself a good birdie option, not two meters longer, not shorter, not to the right, not to the left, on the spot to give you a birdie option and, above all, not to leave yourself a very long putt that could complicate the hole,” he says.
Distance control is etched in his mind. Two other aspects he knows he needs to improve are the putt, where he really has a margin, and strategy on the course. It was a week to enjoy and learn. In addition, Masaveu has competed, he has achieved something that only Olazábal, Sergio and Rahm had done before (making the cut in a Major as an amateur) and he has left more than one pro with their mouth open because of his ball quality. Luis, mission more than accomplished.
