The Spanish basketball legend will support, promote and publicise the most important tournament in women’s golf, which will be held at Finca Cortesin, Malaga, from 22 to 24 September 2023.
Pau Gasol, the best basketball player our country has ever produced, is the new ambassador of the Solheim Cup 2023, an event that will take place next September at Finca Cortesin, Málaga. He joins a select list that includes other Spanish sports figures such as Rafael Nadal and José María Olazábal.
The winner of two NBA rings with Los Angeles Lakers is a great fan of golf, a passion he shares with his great friend, Rafa Nadal, and since the pandemic and his subsequent retirement from professional basketball he has intensified his practice, both by taking lessons and participating in charity tournaments.
“The definitive push that made me start playing golf came from the confluence of three factors: during the confinement it was one of the few sports that could be played, it coincided with my recovery from a foot injury and my wife’s family has always played golf, so I encouraged myself,” Gasol explained.
“At first I was pretty bad at it, it was frustrating, but I didn’t give up. I started giving lessons, I saw the first progress… and now, whenever I can, I try to play wherever I go,” he admitted.
Pau Gasol has always been involved in numerous charity projects. In 2013, he created the Gasol Foundation with his brother Marc to reduce childhood obesity and promote healthy habits. In addition, Pau is a strong advocate of gender equality in all areas, but especially in sport.
For all these reasons, the former basketball player has joined the work of promoting the Solheim Cup 2023, after learning the details of the project from Alicia Garrido, executive director of Deporte & Business, organiser of the most important tournament in women’s golf.
“The celebration of the Solheim Cup for the first time in Spain is a source of pride and it is an event that we have to enjoy, but, above all, support, because I am sure that it will mean a before and after for Spanish golf in general and for Spanish women’s golf in particular. I have no doubt that this tournament will encourage more excellent players to continue to emerge,” she concluded.
