¡Viva España! Beatriz Recari is the first Spaniard to win on the LPGA since Marta Figueros-Dotti at the 1994 Cup Noodles Hawaiian Ladies Open.
No Bull: Recari was born and raised in Pamplona, Spain, better known throughout the world as the city where they host the “running of the bulls.” Has she ever tried it? “Absolutely not,” she said without hesitation. “Absolutely not. You know, everyone asks me that, but I always say I've seen it enough times to realize that it's more dangerous than what people think. I watched it many times behind the fence, but that's about it.”
Life in the fast lane: Today, Recari drew on a once-in-a-lifetime experience she had earlier this month when she rode in an IndyCar two-seater with motorsports legend Mario Andretti. Recari took a 200 mph ride with Andretti around Homestead – Miami Speedway prior to the IZOD IndCary Series’ last race of the 2010 season. “I felt like that was a great experience coming before this tournament because I believe I had so much adrenaline and then I just felt so calm when I was standing on the putt,” she said. “That was a crazy experience. I was very, very lucky or honored to have such an experience.”
Hooked: Recari got into golf via her dad Jose Luis, and as an 11-year-old beginner, her head pro offered her a spot in the Spanish Championships, which she accepted. Even though she shot “hundreds,” she said, “I had this feeling,” she recalled her post-round thoughts. “I took my dad to the car, I was like I said, ‘Dad, I really want to do this serious.’ I said, ‘Would you support me? Would you help me?’ He said, ‘Yeah, of course.’ I live in the north and the winters are cold, so he said, ‘If the Sundays are cold and it's minus whatever, we're still practicing.’ I said, ‘I get it.’ And since then it's been a very interesting journey.”
Papa Garcia: Although she’s only met countryman Sergio Garcia a few times, Recari said his dad Victor has been an integral part of getting her into the victory circle on the LPGA. “I actually call him Papa Garcia,” she said. “They're a great family, and my second year on Tour I didn't have any sponsor or club sponsor or nothing, so I had to pay for everything. And Victor, his dad, he helped me a lot. He supported me with balls, gloves. And he really looked after me very well, so I have only positive comments towards them.”
Topics: Recari, Beatriz, Get to know
