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"Tiger in the hunt at the Tour Championship"
It's the dominant golf story on these shores at the moment - and probably will be through the weekend - so I decided to leave it on the back burner for a little while and look across the ocean to Europe for something a bit less... predictable.
I naturally focused on the gorgeous Saint-Nom-la-Bretèche GC where the Vivendi Trophy is taking place. I learned that Britain-Ireland had built their lead over Continental Europe... and that a renewed Montgomerie/Poulter tensions had died down after a few artful Tweets on Mr. Poulter's part.
But the big story... the one that's gone viral... is the bold political statement made by Spanish golfer Gonzalo Fernandez-Castaño in the middle of a four ball round. It was captured in a 10 second clip featuring the 2008 British Masters winner dramatically disrobing a banana, while playing partner, Miguel Angel Jimenez looks on. "Message to Zapatero: "You're going to strip us all naked."
That's the english translation, and Zapatero refers to Spanish Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero. The succinct statement is thought to be a jab at a proposed tax hike. It may not sound like big news over here, but in Spain it certainly seems to have struck a chord. In less than 48 hours this modest little YouTube clip has been viewed almost 85,000 times.
H/T Lawrence Donegan and Irish Golf Desk ❀ +
More Spanish golfer stories??? Your next golf trip has to be Spain!
ReplyDeleteHere in the US I think it's a federal offense for professional golfers to talk about politics. It looks like maybe they have that same law in Spain.
ReplyDeleteGood for him ! Over here, a Senator speaks out against the president and he is barbecued in the media for telling the truth.
ReplyDeleteSpain ? Hope it doesn't happen, but they are a forerunner of what is going to happen here if we don't wake up soon. Spain surrendered to Muslim terrorists a couple of years ago...now they are paying a huge price in taxes for it.
Yikes, Courtgolf. If you're referring to foot-in-mouth Joe Wilson, "speaks out" speaks volumes on euphemisms.
ReplyDeleteBozo has nothing on that clown.
The Spanish guy might want to check with Jim Thorpe on what NOT to do when it comes to taxes.
ReplyDeleteGolfers are allowed to have opinions too, but it appears most shy away from political statements. I wish my Spanish was better so I could appreciate it more!
ReplyDeleteSo does that mean we get to see him and Sergio naked? YES!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteThis is great Spain is a great place for golf.
ReplyDelete@ashgolf: we will very pleased if golfgirl comes to Spain in their next golf trip.
ReplyDeleteGonzazol Fernandez Castaño is a golf player that lives and plays golf in Puerta de Hierro GC, in Madrid, one of the most exclusiv neiborhood in Madrid, so it is very much sure, that is political party, is not the same as Rodriguez Zapatero...He can be right about his sentence, because our Presidents is managing quite bad this crisis...but this is political stuff, and we are in a golf blog...,so I think that Gonzo´s words should not be said in a golf course....
The most weird thing about this, is that in Spain it is really hard to watch golf in the news or read about it in the newspapers...
Gonzo has finish a 3-4 times in second place this year in the European TOur, but news haven´t shown anything about that, but he said that about our President and he was everywhere....