Alejandro Larrazabal

Larrazabal comes from a highly successful golfing family. His father Gustavo played for Venezuela in the World Amateur Team Championship and Alejandro, his younger brother Pablo, and his mother Elena have all represented Spain in the same international event. His 19 year old brother Pablo was also in the British Amateur and when he didn't make it into match play he caddied for his bother in the match play portion of the championship.
Larrazabal, twice a Spanish junior champion, qualified for the match-play stages of the Amateur in second place out of 288 entrants, with rounds of 76 and 66 at Royal Porthcawl and Pyle & Kenfig, and then won through five 18-hole matches before reaching the final.
Larrazabal claimed his victory with a one-hole victory over Martin Sell of England in the 36-hole final. He follows in the footsteps of fellow countrymen Jose Maria Olazabal and Sergio Garcia, who won the Amateur in 1884 and 1998 respectively and have since made significant reputations in the professional game.
With the victory it meant a change of plans for his future. He had set his mind on attending the European Tour qualifying school last autumn, but his Amateur win assured him a spot in the Masters at Augusta, he delayed turning professional in order to play at the Masters.
Played in three European Tour events in 2002, Canarias Open de Espana, The Barclays Scottish Open & The British Open, missed the cut in all three.