I’ve been playing golf for a while now, ever since I was a little kid. This week, I decided to really dive into the world of Santiago de la Fuente. He’s a 22-year-old golfer from Guadalajara, Mexico, and he’s been making some serious waves. I started by digging up everything I could find on him. Turns out, he’s the second Mexican to win the Latin America Amateur Championship. Pretty impressive, right?
I spent a good chunk of my day reading about his victory at the Santa Maria Golf Club in Panama. From what I gathered, he had a strong finish, making birdies on the last two holes to secure the win. It got me super hyped to try and emulate some of his techniques. I even found out he learned golf from his dad, who was inspired by a Tiger Woods book. So, you know I had to try out the black-and-red look he’s known for, just like his idol.
Practicing Like Santiago
- Emulating the Style: First, I put on my black and red gear. Feeling like a pro already, I headed to the driving range.
- Focusing on the Short Game: I remembered reading that Santiago’s older brother, Diego, had an “unreal” short game, which pushed Santiago to improve his own. This inspired me to spend extra time on my chipping and putting. I must have hit a hundred putts, trying to get that perfect feel.
- Working on Long Game: After getting comfortable with the short game, I moved on to my drives. I focused on maintaining a strong, steady swing, just like Santiago’s. It was tough, but I started to see some improvement by the end of the session.
By the end of the day, I was exhausted but felt like I’d made some real progress. I still have a long way to go to reach Santiago’s level, but this deep dive into his game has given me a lot of motivation. He won the Latin America Amateur Championship in January 2024, and it seems like he received an exemption into the 124th U.S. Open at Pinehurst Resort. I can’t wait to see how he performs there. I’ll definitely be watching and trying to pick up more tips from his play.
This whole experience has been a blast. From learning about his background to trying to replicate his style and technique, I’ve gained a new appreciation for the hard work and dedication it takes to excel at golf. I’m gonna keep practicing and maybe, just maybe, one day I’ll get to see Santiago play in person. That’s the dream, anyway.
