01삼촌의 지혜, 조카의 도약을 돕다
스페인의 신예 호세바 토레스가 DP월드투어 시즌 최종전인 그랜드 파이널에서 극적인 반전을 이뤄내며 주목받고 있다. 그는 대회 기간 동안 두 차례 마스터스 토너먼트 우승자이자 라이더컵 전설인 삼촌 호세 마리아 올라사발로부터 전략적 조언을 적극적으로 구한 것으로 알려졌다.
토레스는 "삼촌은 내가 겪고 있는 압박감과 코스 공략법을 누구보다 잘 이해한다"며 "그의 경험에서 나온 조언이 이번 주 내 경기 운영에 큰 힘이 됐다"고 밝혔다. 올라사발 역시 조카의 침착한 플레이와 위기 관리 능력에 만족감을 표했다.
이번 그랜드 파이널 활약으로 토레스는 투어 카드 유지와 내년 시즌 전망을 밝게 했다. 스페인 골프의 대를 이을 차세대 주자로서, 전설적인 삼촌의 멘토링을 받으며 자신만의 커리어를 써내려가고 있다.
02Original (English) — DP World Tour
As the nephew of José María Olazábal, Joseba Torres benefits from a source of experience and advice largely unmatched.
Torres first played golf with Olazábal when he was just three years old and now, at 24, is hoping to make the next step in his career by becoming a DP World Tour member.
Among the most in-form players on the HotelPlanner Tour, with three top tens in his last five starts, confidence is already high but the presence of two-time Masters champion Olazábal is fuelling him with an added layer of belief.
Earlier this season, Torres counted on the insights of Olazábal as his caddie at the Open de Portugal but for this week, Olazábal is offering a helping hand in the capacity of a coach.
"It's amazing to have him around, not only the bag, but around with all the experience, all the information about every single shot that you hit," said Torres.
"So, it's very good to have him around, I'm very happy."
A former Spanish Under-16 champion who played at Nova Southeastern University, Torres is in his second campaign on the HotelPlanner Tour after earning playing rights at DP World Tour Qualifying School, where Olazábal was his caddie too.
He gives me a lot of information about every single shot, where to miss, where not to miss.
Testing himself for the first time in the high-stakes environment of the Grand Final at Club de Golf Alcanada, where the destiny of the 15 DP World Tour card holders will be finalised, the Spaniard is confident Olazábal's trust will help him execute under pressure.
"I mean, from a mental side it is more when I'm in the tournament, playing and whatever situation I'm in," he said.
"But even the practice rounds with all the little breaks on the greens, with all the bunkers, all the rough and everything, he gives me a lot of information about every single shot, where to miss, where not to miss.
"So, I try to write that down and keep it in mind in the tournament."
Just getting to the Grand Final appeared a long shot when he sat 120th on the Road to Mallorca Rankings ahead of the English Trophy in September, but a tie for fourth preceded a tie for tenth in Portugal and a top 20 in Abu Dhabi saw him just play his way into the double header of China-based tournaments earlier this month.
A runner-up finish at the first of those, the Hainan Open, lifted him to 20th and despite a missed cut a week later, he arrives in Mallorca realistically needing a finish of fifth or better in the 45-man field to be in with a chance of breaking into the top 15. If not, the safety net of DP World Tour Qualifying School awaits.
"All of a sudden, [after] four miracle weeks, now I'm here. So yeah, very happy," he said.
"I'm trying to get away from that [the permutations] a little bit.
"I mean, five weeks ago I was thinking of playing First Stage of the Q-School and now I'm here playing the final in Mallorca.
"But my idea is, I mean, I know I have to finish top five to make sure to get the DP World Tour card, but it would be a dream to get it. So I try to focus on that.
"Same as China, I don't have much to lose. So I'll just try to go full throttle, yeah."
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