South African Thomas Aiken is determined to become the first ever player in the 100-year history of the Spanish Open to win the title for a second year in succession.
- Thomas Aiken and fiancee Kate Midgley
Aiken captured his European Tour victory last year in Barcelona and in very emotional circumstance following the passing early on the second day of the event of the great Seve Ballesteros.
Aiken has travelled this week to Seville with the goal of winning the event and just weeks before he gets married to fellow South African Kate Midgley.
The couple will be married in the Bahamas.
However before the beach wedding Aiken has set himself the task of retaining the third oldest Open title in golf and that task commences on Thursday on the Real de Golf Club in Seville.
And Aitken will be looking to follow in the footsteps of American Jason Dufner who last week captured his first PGA Tour event in New Orleans and six days before his marriage.
“It would be fabulous if I could manage what Jason did last week in the States as that would be a great wedding gift,” said Aitken.
“We’re getting married later this month is the Bahamas so it’s coming up very quickly.”
Aiken had been no stranger to success before winning in Spain having captured eight other victories, including seven in South Africa, since turning professional in 2002.
However after leading both the second and third rounds the Spanish crowd were anticipating local Barcelona-born Pablo Larrazabal would succeed and not Aiken.
Aiken eventually won by two strokes with Larrazabal sharing third.
“Spain is such a strong golfing nation with a lot of history with many flamboyant players and charisma and passion for this game we all love,” said Aiken.
“I went into last year’s event with really no expectations and it turned into a very interesting week with the passing of Seve.
“It was a very emotional week especially for the Spanish nation also for the people walking the golf course last year in Barcelona and pretty much for anyone around the world who loves golf.
“Seve seemed to prove that while it is looked on as a sport or a job by some people it really is just a game that needs to be played, and people love to watch.
“It took people like Seve to make it that wonderful game that is today. So we all owe Seve a great deal and wherever he is, he is looking down and we are especially thinking of him during this golf tournament.
“I look at the trophy and will be forever pleased that my name is there with Seve’s who won this tournament so many times.”
While Ballesteros will be particularly remembered this week organisers are planning no special tribute to the five time Major champion.
This week also marks the 40th anniversary of the European Tour and the third occasion the Real Club de Golf de Sevilla course has hosted the Spanish Open.
Aiken will face stiff opposition this week including Larrazabal and his Spanish compatriots Alvaro Quiros, Miguel Angel Jimenez and Jose Maria Olazabal.
Italian-born Ryder Cup winning brothers Edoardo and Francesco Molinari are competing while Scotland’s Colin Montgomerie returns to competition.
Also in the field is the Major Champions Michael Campbell of New Zealand and the American duo of Rich Beem and Shaun Micheel are in the Euro 2m event.
