Andalucía preview: DeChambeau, Catlin hope to continue their Valderrama love story

SOTOGRANDE, Spain – With captain Bryson DeChambeau and reserve player John Catlin both head over heels in love with the demanding layout of Real Club Valderrama, it could lead to another exciting finish for Crushers GC this week at LIV Golf Andalucía.

DeChambeau started his amazing run in LIV Golf last season in Spain, when he overcame his struggles and posted a runner-up finish to champion Talor Gooch, who needed to make a long birdie putt on the final hole to deny the reigning US Open champion by one shot.

That total of 11 under by the big Texan included a stunning 8-under 63 on Saturday, the lowest round of the tournament and a score that is rarely envisaged on a course considered one of the toughest tests of golf in Continental Europe.

DeChambeau comes into the tournament this year in a very different frame of mind. The US Open win was an incredible high, and he continued to lap up the massive outpouring of love from the fans the following week in Nashville where he finished tied 3rd despite the tiredness that comes from a major battle and all the commitments after it.

“I’ve had a couple days to let it settle in. It was really cool to be able to experience that and just share that experience with others out there,” said DeChambeau, who is yet to win a LIV title this year. “It’s exciting but barely got a little bit of rest. Fourth of July was fun. I’m looking forward to a great week. It was a lot of fun the past couple weeks just resting.”

DeChambeau has been the best player in majors in the world this year. Apart from winning the U.S. Open in Pinehurst, he was second to Xander Schauffele in the PGA Championship and tied for 6th at the Masters after a disappointing Sunday. With the Open Championship being played next week, he’d be eager to carry on that momentum with a good outing in Spain.

Valderrama is also a special place for Catlin, who is filling in for the injured Charles Howell III for a third straight week. The 33-year-old from Sacramento won the 2020 Estrella Damm NA Andalucía Masters in his first appearance at the golf course. At the end of the 54 holes that year, he was the only player in red numbers and eventually beat Cleeks GC captain Martin Kaymer by one shot.

“It’s a spectacular place to come back to, the memories start coming back, each hole I think about some of the shots that I’ve hit and it definitely makes me smile,” said the man who is currently leading the Asian Tour Order of Merit, as well as International Series Ranking.

“The golf course was playing very challenging and you had to hit high-quality golf shots just to give yourself any kind of a chance at a birdie. That win gave me a lot of confidence.”

Catlin was in the mix in Nashville throughout the three rounds, but it was double bogey against the run of play midway through Sunday that denied him a top-three finish. He has continued that fine form and was second last week in International Series Morocco, where he was usurped by a spectacular eagle-birdie finish by New Zealand’s Ben Campbell.

The table-topping team is rounded off by Paul Casey, one of the most consistent players in the season so far, and Anirban Lahiri, who is hurting from a missed opportunity to qualify for the Open Championship, having lost a two-for-three playoff in the Final Qualifying.

“I am sick and tired of not closing the deal, and it hurts more because I am playing some really good golf. Hopefully, the game will show up again this week and I can finish things differently,” said the Indian superstar.

Captain DeChambeau is scheduled to start from the third tee in the first round on Friday, while all three of his Crushers teammates have been grouped together on the ninth tee.