Adrian Arnus: "Nadal and Tiger are something amazing"

Adri Arnaus (Moià, 1994), professional since 2017, will experience his fifth participation in a Grand Slam this week, none other than at the Cradle of Golf, in Saint Andrews (Scotland).

This is the second British after the 2019 one at Royal Portrush, how does it show itself, how did it come about?

It’s a dream come true, it’s a goal set at the beginning of the year, it’s the 150th anniversary in Saint Andrews. In just a few days, there seems to be no rain, no lack of wind, it will be an entertaining week and we will enjoy like little children.

Saint Andrews and especially the Old Course, what inspires you today?

It’s an area we’ve pretty much touched on. The first time I played here was on vacation with my parents in Scotland, we won the lotto in the draw for ‘tee times’ (exits, the famous ‘ballot’) we played three, I was 12 or 13 years old, and it was One last. Then I came to a St. Andrews Trophy with the national team and a few days ago I remembered with my caddy Xabi Gorospe that we had a chance on the team, and we finally played the Dunhill Championship three times, but in a different way how he was preparing for Open. In the October tournament, the field is more humid and has more affordable flags.

A favorite for this edition?

I don’t look too much at who wins it when I play it. If I hadn’t played it, it would have been something else (laughs).

He has already played two US Open, plus this one will have two British, and a PGA, the Masters are all he needs. in 2023?

We are approaching, yes, the masters, gaining experience, step by step. I keep learning a lot of things that make me a better player, but we have to keep fighting and have experience, take the right steps. Playing Masters is another dream come true.

Billy Foster, caddy for Matthew Fitzpatrick, the last winner of the U.S. Open, said he was shaken to a gorilla by a win in Boston. Did you have the same feeling after you won your first European Tour title, at the PGA Catalunya?

Like it or not, it’s nice to be able to share a few things on a Sunday and win the cup, this is what I’ve been looking for, how many times have I been close to it, how many times have I lost playoffs, it’s a feeling of maximum joy, but the getting weight off my top … Eventually success has to come.

Is it a mental or technical issue?

It was something a few times there, taking positive lessons from the defeats, I learned a lot from it all, and this time we accepted it calmly and philosophically and went well.

How do you see Spanish golf? Seve, Olazábal, Sergio, Jon, you, don’t break the chain. Is there a future?

Things are doing well from the base in the Spanish Federation. This weekend he won the fifth full European for the team. Get out. We are always looking to learn things from the great, this is a good sign, the future is still far away, there are so many young people rising and so far to reach.

Is the hierarchy of the golf world changing with the Scheffler, Morikawa, Schauffele, Rahm …?

In tennis the ‘Big Three’ still lasts, Federer may have lost a bit of a piston due to injuries but in golf a generational change is taking place, in the world top 10 almost everyone is under 30 years old. On tour today, power prevails, the hitting is strong, people now come from universities that are very prepared, the players are doing a lot of punches but are also very good at short games.

Can you guess life for the Super League created with Saudi money?

It seems that it has come to stay, they are determined that it is so, some top players have signed up, they are players with a name and that gives them a lot of credibility. From here on out, I think it’s been a lot going on, but I think golf has been organized in a way over a hundred years based on history, tradition, the ‘majors’, the Ryder Cup. And for me it clearly precedes everything else.

Jon Rahm said recently that he doesn’t play golf for money, he does it for tradition, the history of tournaments, especially the Grand Slam, do you agree?

I will be playing my fifth ‘big’ and what fascinates me the most is playing all these important tournaments and Ryder, the best for a golfer.

Have you ever been tempted to play the Super League?

Not to my knowledge. We are clearly focused on making a calendar around the Grand Slams. This will open many doors for me.

If he says yes to the Super League, the doors of the American circuit are clearly closed to him, that sooner or later he will come, right?

I studied in America, I was very comfortable living there. In Europe I know I will be a more complete player but I am taking steps to get back to America and be able to compete with all my weapons to fight the best in the world every week.

Do you find yourself playing the same circuits or just focused on the US?

So far I don’t know, but the idea is to combine the two, yes.

Do you see it possible to play Ryder 2023 in Rome, joining Henrik Stenson’s team?

No doubt. A year ago was in this spotlight and now 2022 is more. For me it would be awesome to be part of the team. And win too.

When you see Nadal, who has physical problems, win his 22nd Grand Slam, and the Tigers make the cut at Augusta and the PGA after overcoming injuries from his horrific car accident, what is the first thing that comes to mind?

A maximum, tremendous admiration for what these two figures represent in their sports, they teach us what they are capable of and, with difficulty, the mental strength and motivation they have, the culture of sacrifice and effort . This is something amazing.

The latter. Are you betting on a Ryder at PGA Catalunya in 2031?

Man, of course, they’ve been talking for a long time, the nice, ‘boom’ like in ’97. The number of fans in Andalusia has increased by ten, and here it will be the same. I hope the news becomes a reality soon and we can celebrate it.