FOLLOWING IN THE FOOTSTEPS

Meet Adri Arnaus, the latest talented Spanish golfer looking to emulate Seve and take the world of golf by storm

- Michael Weston

Adri Arnaus was three years old when he learnt his first lesson in golf – don’t upset Sergio Garcia. He was in Spain at a golf tournament and had lost sight of his mother. Panic set in as he weaved around the many spectators angling for a glimpse of one of the game’s most exciting young talents. The crying started at the worst possible time – on Garcia’s backswing. According to his mother (he doesn’t remember the incident), he was not impressed. Arnaus whispers the story as if he was still in the gallery. He can smile now. He’s played with his idol since and there was no mention of the 1998 Spanish Open.

One of their most recent rounds together came at last year’s Andalucia Masters. It’s a tournament the 25-year-old Spaniard remembers with great fondness, and not just because he enjoyed the company of one of his idols for two days. There are a lot of special memories from that week at Valderrama, where he finished in a tie for second, and it set the platform for a fantastic rookie season on the European Tour.

“That is the tournament I really look back on as one of the highlights of the season,” says Arnaus, who recorded six top-tens in his debut year on tour. “Having the crowd on our side and all the people following us. He’s [Garcia] always been one of my idols. I have always followed Rory and Tiger closely. Before that, I remember Olazabal winning The Masters and Ballesteros, too. I guess I saw him more on YouTube.”