Luis Fernandez - Captain Fantastic
Luis Fernandez has been a winning team captain on a number of occasions in the Five Nations tournament. Below he tells fippa.org about Catalonia's 2025 victory at Ordino.
How proud are you to lead the Catalan team to victory in the Five Nations tournament ?
Being the captain of the Catalan team is a real privilege—not only because of the sporting talent of each of the players, but also because it’s a role that many of the 11,000 players in Catalonia would love to have.
For a while during the tournament, it appeared as if Andorra would win?
We know that Andorra, especially at home, fields players who are not only highly skilled but also extremely dangerous due to their familiarity with the course. So yes, there was a point when it became clear that Andorra would make the competition very tough. But if there's one thing that defines the Catalan team, it's our spirit of sacrifice and strong desire to win.
What was the catalyst for the change in fortunes?
At first glance, winning the Strokeplay by a comfortable margin might have suggested some complacency from our players. But if you look at the numbers closely, that wasn’t the case. What really happened was an excellent Saturday performance in the pairs formats by the other nations. Without a doubt, winning all four fourball matches was the turning point that sealed our victory.
There were some extremes of weather during the event?
We knew it would be a rainy weekend, and from Saturday afternoon onward, play took place under rain and with nearby thunderstorms. Fortunately, a smart adjustment of tee times based on the weather forecasts meant that the conditions remained just an anecdote, and all rounds could be completed as planned.
Which discipline of play suits the Catalans best – Strokeplay, Foursomes, Greensomes, Fourball, Singles?
In Catalonia, about 99% of competitions are strokeplay, so that’s probably where we are most competitive. That said, I personally love the matchplay format in all its variations.
Was it a distraction that the Five Nations tournament was played so close to the European championships?
In our case, we’re fortunate to have a large number of top-level players, so we were able to select two different teams for each event. However, I do think that for smaller associations, it represents a significant challenge. Playing under pressure for so many days in a row makes it hard to perform at your best, and that could impact their performance at the European Championship.
You appear to have a great affinity with the Five Nations tournament. What are the characteristucs of the event that appeal to you?
The tournament strikes a great balance between fierce competition and genuine camaraderie and friendship among the players. Add to that the matchplay format, which I particularly enjoy, and it makes for a very special event.
The event appears to have been very well organized by the AAPP?
Yes, the AAPP went all out to organize a top-notch competition. Despite the challenges posed by the weather, the entire event ran very smoothly.
