Interview

Cabrera: “Seve always told me: ‘Technology is equalizing downwards’”

Wegolf 08 Jul 2020

In our IG Live, Pato told us how he experienced the advancement of technology and what changes he sees in the new generations of golfers: “They are all athletes now”

You can also listen to it here:

These were his most prominent phrases:

“When I started... I remember the Pinnacle driver starting, which was an incredible little thing. You see it now, and today's ball is bigger than the clubhead.”

“I started as a caddie in '80. And I started playing in '87, which is when I played my first tournament. It was already played with metal.”

“I was lucky enough to play a lot with Seve Ballesteros. And he used to say 'Technology is equalizing downwards. Now anyone hits it 300 yards. Before, the one who hit it 300 yards had an advantage'.”

“I saw the transformation. The clubs help much more... The balls too... Actually, it's the balls that go far. The clubs help you miss less.”

“One of the fights the R&A has with Titleist, with Bridgestone... They say: 'Stop making balls that go so far because we are running out of courses'. In Villa Allende you can't lengthen a meter in 18 holes. In traditional courses you don't have room to lengthen a meter. And the balls go further and further, and the clubs help you more, you miss less and less...”

“I was always a long hitter... crooked but long. The year before last I played on the Korn Ferry and I said 'I can't play here anymore'. They were outdriving me by 30 yards. I wasn't used to that... What's more, I waited for them to hit. I played with these kids who hit 330, 340 yards... I said 'bye...'. I think Tiger was the one who set that path. They are all athletes now.”