Patricia Sanz
Spain’s Patricia Sanz has started the season well with a 2nd place finish in the season opening Terre Blanche Ladies Open. Sanz received an invitation to the LET’s Lalla Meryem Cup due to her good play in France and the young Spaniard made the most of her opportunity, finishing in a tie for 22nd place in Morocco.
When did you start to play golf and why?
I started to play golf when I was 7 in Madrid (La Granjilla) and then I became a member of the RACE Golf Club. My father introduced me, as his boss played it too. So my younger sister Marta and I started to play with him. I got into the Spanish National Team when I was 16.
Your highlights in amateur events…. We have recently won the Nations Cup in Sotogrande (Sotogrande Cup) and I have won another event in Valencia recently.
Your studies… I have recently finished university and graduated in Biomedicine at Alabama. I did not like economics and I would have loved to study medicine… So I decided to study this, which is similar.
What are your expectations in 2013?
Well, I did not get the full LET card at the Lalla Aicha Tour School, so I decided to stay an amateur. Now I am an LETAS member and my plans are to play the LETAS events and try to get my full card via this tour.
How was your experience at the Lalla Aicha Tour School?
Well, they are two very exciting weeks and I learn a lot.
How did you prepare this season?
I did also play in the LPGA Qualifying last year, but I realised I was not ready yet so I have started preparing more seriously. Now, I have started in January to practice really seriously, with a fitness trainer (Martin Siebelist, who is also coaching Gonzalo Fernandez- Castaño) and every day with my coach Antonio Barquero. I go every morning with Martin and now I am currently practicing at Centro Nacional. Regarding mental coaching, Oscar del Rio is helping me.
I do not have plans to turn professional yet, until I feel I am prepared enough. I will try to play as many events as possible, amateurs and professional on the LETAS and I will try to get the Scholarship Neo Pro, from the Royal Spanish Federation.
Your tournaments this year played up to date…
My first event was the International of Portugal and I finished 7th and then I played in Valencia, and I won there with total of -12 (actually it’s my record)… I also played in Mallorca but lost in the first match and finally another amateur event in Sotogrande (Cadiz).
My first professional event this year was Terre Blanche Ladies Open…
Your experiences at Terre Blanche…
That event was the first time that I was in the final round with chances to win a professional event. The key moments were on hole 12, when we stopped because of the rain and I lost my concentration a little bit… and finished with 3 bogeys on the last 3 holes.
Terre Blanche is a magnificent resort, the golf course, the hotel, the practice facilities… The greens were perfect, very fast. A very tough golf course…
Your goals this year…
One of my biggest goals is to get a full LET card via the LETAS events, if possible. So get one of the 5 spots available or at least, avoid the first part of the Qualifying School and get directly to Final Qualifying. I would like to play in as many events possible with the National Team and play the Individual European Amateur Championship and improve my World Amateur Rankings, as now I am currently within the top 100.
YOUR PERSONALITY
Tell me something most people don’t know about you
I am huge fan of “Grey’s Anatomy”.
What would you like to do if you did not play golf?
Probably a doctor. I would study medicine.
How many languages do you speak?
English, Spanish and French.
Your dream foursome…
Tiger, Lorena Ochoa, my sister and me.
Favourite activity when you want to relax
I love to practice and follow all sports and spend time with friends. I like tennis and athletics.
Best part of your game… Any favourite yardage?
Long game. I love 105 yards.
Weakest part of your game… Short game, less than 45 meters.
Driving distance… 270 yds average
Putting average… 32-33
Lowest round -7 (RACE)
No holes in one, yet
Favourite Golf Course… Sotogrande
Already friends on Tour… Yes, some Spanish players like Mireia Prat, Marta Silva and also Peruvian Maria Salinas and Swedish Sara Wikstrom and Mallory Fraiche, from the US.
Any superstition when playing golf…
I have one but I am trying to get rid of it. I always play with Titleist 1 on Day 1, Titleist 2 on Day 2….
Your team…. Fitness coach, Martin Siebelist, golf coach, Antonio Barquero and mental coach, Oscar del Rio.
