Manuel de los Santos missed cut at St. Andrews

Tuesday, October 27th, 2009

MANUEL DE LOS SANTOS MISSES CUT:

‘I AM NOT DISAPPOINTED, I HAVE HAD THE MOST FANTASTIC WEEK’

Manuel De Los Santos, who lost a
leg in a car accident when he was
18, narrowly missed the cut in the
Alfred Dunhill Links Team
Championship at St Andrews.

Playing with professional Richard
Bland, the pair scored a three
round total of 20-under-par,
missing the cut by just one shot.
Only the top 20 teams go forward
to play on the final day on the Old
Course at St Andrews.

Manuel, 25, who is originally from the Dominican Republic but now lives in Paris, said: “I didn’t make the cut but I am not disappointed, because I have had the most fantastic week.  Playing in a professional tournament is very different, and at first it was a little nerve racking, but I soon began to enjoy the atmosphere and wanted to play well.

“I had a really great time playing with Richard Bland, we got on really well together and it was a brilliant experience to play alongside a professional.

“I am also overwhelmed with the support I have received from both the spectators and the professionals during the week. To meet the best golfers in the world, such as Lee Westwood, and for Lee to say I am an inspiration to him is just unbelievable.”

The tournament, conceived as a celebration of links golf, is played over three of the world’s best known and respected links courses – the Old Course at St Andrews, the Championship Course at Carnoustie and the highly regarded Kingsbarns Golf Links.

Manuel is supported by Allianz, which is a partner of the St Andrews Links Trust.