Romero has no fear

By Matt Cooper Last updated: 27th March 2009

Golf365's Matt Cooper speaks one-to-one with Andres Romero.

Conventional wisdom has it that a golfer should ease his way into the major championships: that he should find his feet and build on early experiences before feeling comfortable with the idea of contesting victory at one of the four most important tournaments in golf.

But Argentina's Andres Romero doesn't do conventional wisdom.

His first major start came at Hoylake in the 2007 Open Championship and, as Tiger Woods lapped the field, Romero's eighth place finish hinted at his ability to peak when it matters.

Twelve months later he was back at the Open, launching a stunning, rollercoaster final round assault that included ten birdies and two double bogeys. Stood on the 17th tee he led by two only to finish double-bogey-bogey and fall one shot short of the play-off.

Most golfers would have been mortified by what he had done. Not Pigu (as he is known to friends).

No, Pigu laughed off comparisons with Jean Van de Velde and promptly trounced a high quality field at the following week's Deutsche Bank Player's Championship to collect his maiden European Tour title.

Twelve months ago he made his debut in the Masters and repeated his Open debut trick by finishing eighth.

It was no fluke - he ranked second for Ball-striking, second for Total Driving and confounded notions that the greens are impossible for debutants by ranking tenth for Putting Average.

He performed with credit at the 2008 US Open and Open Championship before finding the top ten again in August's PGA Championship.

That makes it four top ten finishes from just eight starts in the four events that define a golfer's career.

You have to wonder if there is something in his past that motivates him to play sin miedo (without fear) - and there is.

At the age of nine Pigu was diagnosed with inflammation of the kidneys. Refusal to comply with a strict no-sodium diet would have left him reliant on dialysis and too weak for golf.

"That," his mother Rosa reveals, "is when I realized how serious Andres was about becoming a professional golfer."

Adversity often makes a man and in Romero it has created a seriously thrilling golfer who loves the big occasion.

Golf365's Matt Cooper spoke with him ahead of his return to Augusta National.

Golf365: Hola, Andres. You've played very well in all of the majors - do you enjoy the big occasion and the tough conditions?

Andres Romero: I think I get more focused on the big events because I have wished so much to play them. When I am there I think that I could miss this in the future so want to make the most of every chance I have.

Golf365: You came very close to winning the British Open in 2007. Many players would have been disappointed but you used the experience as motivation and won the following week. Is that because you are a positive player sin miedo(without fear)?

Andres Romero: Maybe I am a no fear "sin miedo" guy! That's the way I started playing and how I made my way to where I am now. After the Open in 2007 I learned a lot, and the following week I said to myself that I have to keep playing the same as I did the week before. In fact, I've been playing like this my whole career and at the moment I cannot be angry with the results!

Golf365: What is your first memory of Augusta?

Andres Romero: I can't tell you an exact first memory. Maybe Faldo-Norman in 1996 but since I was a kid and I discovered what the Masters was I watched all four days, every hour on TV, and I dreamed to play there.

Golf365: You finished 8th on your debut in the Masters - was Augusta as exciting as you expected?

Andres Romero: Sure, it was one of the best weeks of the season. My first trip to the course I always wanted to play, spending the week with my friends, and playing with Phil Mickelson the first two rounds, and with Tiger in the third round. I played so good that week that I was always close to the leaders, but two mistakes (on 16th on Saturday and on 11th on Sunday) cost me a lot.

Golf365: What aspect of the course shocked you most? That was most different to what you had seen on TV?

Andres Romero: As I said, I watched a lot on TV, so I know the course pretty well, especially the back nine. Anyway the course is much better and nicer than you see on TV. The greens are incredible, and the movement and contours on them is something that you can't realise on TV.

Golf365: And what are you most looking forward to on your return this year?

Andres Romero: Just to play again is a dream for me. It is the best course in the world and having the chance of playing the Masters is awesome. I would like to be in the hunt again.

Golf365: Is there one lesson you learned from that first appearance? Something you will practise this year.

Andres Romero: Maybe try to make a birdie on the par 5 second hole. It's a hole I can reach in two and I didn't make a single birdie last year. Now I know that there are some places where is not good to be after your approach.

Golf365: Do you think your aggressive todo o nada(all or nothing) style is suited by the risk and reward nature of Augusta?

Andres Romero: I don't know another way to play this game. This is how I got here, so why do I have to change? I played like that last year and I finished 8th.

Golf365: Last year you played alongside Phil Mickelson, Tiger Woods and Padraig Harrington - that is an impressive trio. What did you learn from playing with them? About playing Augusta and about becoming a major winner.

Andres Romero: Having played with the three of them was such an experience for me. They know the course very well and they know how to play it. To be a Major winner you have to be very focused on your game, and try not to be demoralised with a mistake, and this is something I should learn from them.

Golf365: Which is your favourite hole?

Andres Romero: Maybe the 12th hole, I think.

Golf365: And which hole did you find the most difficult?

Andres Romero: Hole 11 - I got a triple bogey on Sunday!

Golf365: And a final question - would you like a green jacket?!

Andres Romero: Of course!!!

Golf365: Thank you, Andres, and good luck at Augusta.

Matt Cooper