Whilst undergoing a brain tumour operation, Spain’s Marta Munoz Jimenez had a dream. A dream that she was playing in a professional tournament at her home course, Naturavila Golf Club in Avila.
12 years later that dream has come true as she prepares to tee it up at the Santander Golf Tour-Avila.
“For me it’s a dream come true. I’m very happy to stay at home and play. I’m very excited.
“Twelve years ago, I had a tumour in my brain and when I was in the operation, I dreamt that I was playing a professional tournament here, so now it’s a dream come true.”
Whilst playing on her home course has its advantages, Munoz Jimenez is keen to not set any expectations on herself and just enjoy every moment.
“I want to enjoy it out there and fight every shot. Of course, I want to win but I think I must concentrate and go shot by shot.
“For me the course is very beautiful. It’s also very flat. For me the best hole is hole 13 because I’ve had two hole-in-ones there. The water makes it tough.”
For the last 10 years, Munoz Jimenez has competed across the LET Access Series and the Santander Golf Tour and comes into this tournament with great momentum having lost out on the final match after four games of match play to Nina Pegova in the Santander Golf Tour – Pedrena.
“Coming into this tournament I played strong at the last Santander Golf Tour event, so I hope that gives me momentum and I play well this year.
“I’m hoping that all the people who’ve known me for 25 years at this course come out and watch and the people of Avila, so I have lots of home support.
“They’ve put in a lot of work to get the course in this good condition, so I think its going to be a great week.”
Munoz Jimenez tees it up at 8:30am Thursday alongside Norway’s Karoline Lund and Swiss amateur Natalie Armbruester.
Follow all the action throughout the tournament on the LETAS social media channels – @letaccess on Instagram, X, and Ladies European Tour Access Series on Facebook – #RaiseOurGame #Access2Let #SantanderGolfTour
