Major Spanish Underdog Learned From The Best

Nuria Iturrioz says two top-rated countrymen have been case studies in helping her with attitude. Photo: Mateo Villalba, Quality Sport Images via Getty Images

It is coming up for 40 years since Marta Figueras-Dotti, now the President of the LET, became the first, and so far, the only Spaniard to win what is now the AIG Women’s Open being played at Carnoustie this week. Carlotta Ciganda and Azahara Muñoz are seen as the most likely candidates to follow in her footsteps. But what of Nuria Iturrioz, a player with the unique advantage of having made a close-up study of two Spanish world No. 1s — Jon Rahm and Rafa Nadal?

Iturrioz, aged 25, attended the same high-performance sports academy in Madrid School as Rahm, while she lives just round the corner from Nadal. The tennis champion is a member at the same Son Servera golf resort as she. And Nadal is out on the golf course whenever he is not practicing on the club’s tennis courts.

Iturrioz admires the way Rafa Nadal stays in control. Photo: Mitchell Layton, Getty Images

Each of...