Dubai: It might have been a tough year for Dubai resident Rafa Cabrera Bello before his triumph at his National Open last weekend but the Spaniard always remained positive about returning to the winner’s circle despite a four-year trophy drought.
The 37-year-old, who secured the Acciona Open de España after holding his nerve in a play-off with fellow Dubai resident Adri Arnaus, last won at the 2017 Scottish Open and had endured a difficult season after losing his PGA Tour card while only carding one top-10 all year before victory at Club de Campo Villa de Madrid.
“I’ve never thought that I wouldn’t win again despite the long gaps between my victories,” said Cabrera Bello, who waited five years between his second and third European Tour wins.
“I’m always working and trying to win more often. I’m aware that some people think I should have won more events but that’s not how my career has gone but I’m trying to win as much as I can. The triumph last week is definitely going to help me gain confidence to achieve that goal.”
The four-time European Tour winner is now riding the crest of a wave and hopes to bring that momentum to one of Europe’s most formidable golf courses – Real Club Valderrama – when he tees up at the Estrella Damm N.A. Andalucía Masters on Thursday.
“It’s an amazing golf course. It’s almost like the Augusta of Europe,” he said. “It is one of the most intimidating, if not the most intimidating golf course I’ve ever played. Shots, don’t need to be good, they need to be perfect. Or as close to perfect as you can produce, because the margin between a great shot and a bad one is very, very narrow.
“You have to be on top of your game. Whoever wins this week gains a lot of respect from the players because we know how difficult a test this is. You can’t get lucky around this course. You have to play great.”
Golf fans in the UAE can catch all the action live on Dubai Sports TV and the official European Tour YouTube channel.
