Jalisco golfer Santiago de la Fuente will be the only Mexican in the field of the 2024 Masters, which starts this Thursday first thing in the morning in the state of Georgia in the American Union.
The 22-year-old native of Ocotlán and graduate of the University of Houston, does so as a non-professional player. He won the title last January, by winning the Latin America Amateur Championship at the Santa María Golf Club in Panama.
After missing a putt to go to the playoff in the 2022 edition that was in the hands of Aaron Jarvis in Casa de Campo, he came back in the canal country, a three-shot lead in the last round and signed the best round of the tournament with 64 strokes (-6), which allowed him to surpass fellow Mexican Omar Morales by two, who was the leader for almost the entire tournament.
De la Fuente, who totaled 270 hits (-10), is the second Mexican to win the LAAC after that unforgettable victory by Álvaro Ortiz, Carlos’s brother, in the Dominican Republic 2019.
For the first round at Augusta National Golf Club, he will play with the Spanish José María Olazábal, already owner of the green jacket in 1994 and 1999, as well as with the American Taylor Moore, starting at 8:12 local time (6:12 of Torreón).
Monday night saw the Amateur Dinner, first organized in 1948, four years before the Champions Dinner took place. This tradition began at the suggestion of amateur golf great and Augusta National member Charlie Yates, who saw it as a way to make those who don’t play for a living feel more comfortable among tour professionals.
All these years later, the dinner continues to serve the purpose that Yates hoped for, as in addition to giving the club and the tournament the opportunity to celebrate the amateur game, it commemorates the legacy of Bobby Jones.
“I am very happy to be able to represent my country. Being the seventh Mexican to play in the Masters elevates that feeling a little more,” said Santiago at a press conference upon his arrival at Augusta National.
The Masters is just different. For amateurs like Santiago de la Fuente, being able to practice with players like two-time champion José María Olazábal, with whom he will play Thursday and Friday, makes this experience even more special.
“José María was very kind to let me practice with him on Monday. I learned a lot from him. He gave me some tips on the greens. It’s very special to play with a former champion and get information from previous years.”
On Tuesday, De La Fuente went out to practice with the 2017 champion, Sergio García, with the Chilean Joaquín Niemann, who arrives as a favorite in this edition, and with the Colombian Camilo Villegas, five-time winner on the PGA Tour.
“Joaquín was the first time I played the course with a couple of weeks ago. He helped me a lot on the course and gave me good advice. I think it was a group from which I learned a lot.”
Since 1934, the Masters Tournament has been home to some of golf’s greatest moments. This year, Augusta National will once again give amateur golfers the opportunity to play alongside their heroes, compete for Low Amateur honors and write a new chapter in golf history.
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2024-04-11 20:09:26