Martin Kaymer has suggested what surprised him about some of the Spanish fans at LIV Golf Andalucia after playing in the group with runner-up Anirban Lahiri.
The fans at Valderrama were treated to a tremendous finish, with home country hero Sergio Garcia winning the individual title while his Fireballs GC side clinched the team trophy. Of course, until the final moments of the final round, it appeared that Anirban Lahiri and the Crushers were set to seal the double victory.
However, Lahiri remarkably missed a short putt to set up play-offs in both the individual and team events – and it was certainly a moment which excited the crowd.
Garcia has spoken about how Valderrama is his favourite course, and he was certainly the fan favourite, with many swiftly responding to Lahiri’s missed putt with chants for the 2017 Masters champion.
Martin Kaymer surprised by some Spanish fans at LIV Golf Andalucia
While Kaymer could understand the support for Garcia, he suggested that he was not such a fan of some of the crowd expressing their delight at Lahiri’s misfortune ahead of the play-off.
“Anirban and me were in the last group together on Sunday, so he didn’t play great all Sunday, but he kept his name up there somehow, through great up and downs. I really respect that. He made a great birdie on 17, and then I thought that he will have it because once we were standing on the 18th fairway, I saw that Sergio made bogey on his last hole. And then Anirban hit it on the green on 18, and we all think, okay, that’s it,” he told Fairway to Heaven.
“Once he hit it to a foot and a half, two feet, I was quite sure that he would win that golf tournament. I was a little bit surprised by the Spanish fans, I must say, I always enjoyed being here and I loved the atmosphere, and I understand that you are for your national hero, for Sergio, but I would have wished a little bit more respect for Anirban in that moment on 18.
“You always have those odd guys that act up a little bit, but for Anirban, I really felt for him in that situation. I’m sure it affected him as well, that some of the fans were screaming Sergio Garcia, Sergio Garcia. It was quite loud and quite vocal about it, so I think you need to respect the efforts of Anirban a little bit more in that situation, because usually it has been amazing out here in Spain and at Valderrama.”
A brilliant day for Spain
In fairness to the Spaniards, it was threatening to be a very special day for the country from a sporting perspective. And Garcia’s win was all the more significant given that he appeared to be well out of contention heading into the final round.
The 44-year-old produced a brilliant final day to secure his fourth win at the course during his career. Jon Rahm described Garcia’s form at Valderrama as ‘mind-blowing’.
So of course, it was hardly surprising that there was so much excitement, particularly after Garcia had bogeyed his final hole.
But it is a shame that the excitement came off the back of Lahiri’s disappointment.
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