Competitive siblings are commonplace in households around the world but it’s not often you hear about a family that are all exceptionally talented in the same sport.
Rafa Cabrera-Bello shot to fame in the UAE and around the world following his dazzling victory in the 2012 Omega Dubai Desert Classic but what a lot of people aren’t aware of is that his sister Emma, and brother Miguel, are also hugely talented professional golfers. Miguel plies his trade on the Pro Golf Tour while Emma is an occasional competitor on the Ladies European Tour and she’ll make her return to Emirates Golf Club, scene of big brother Rafa’s sensational victory, for the first time since 2011 to compete in the Omega Dubai Ladies Masters. Worldwide Golf’s Rick Bevan caught up with Rafa and Emma at the European Tour Performance Institute before pitting them against each other in our ‘Sibling Short Game Showdown.’
Worldwide Golf: So who was the first to pick up the clubs in the Cabrera-Bello family?
Rafa Cabrera-Bello: We all started playing at roughly the same time. I was six, Emma was four and my little brother Miguel was three. My uncle came to our house one day with a golf club and a plastic ball so we practiced a few swings in the back yard. Everyone thinks it’s easier than it actually is so our dad started taking us all to the golf course.
Emma Cabrera-Bello: I don’t recall when I first started because we were so young. We do have some fun videos at home where we are swinging a golf club and completely missing the ball. The clips are totally locked up! Golf is something that we did together from the start.
WWG: Were you competitive against your brothers or was it just friendly fun?
Emma: Our dad invented a game that we would play most afternoons where we would play for pins. Each day he would collect pins then give one pin to each of us.
Rafa: He invented a quick handicap system so we all had an equal chance of winning. He would allocate variable shots out of the blue to challenge whoever was playing better to make the competition fair but competitive. It was very enjoyable and there was a healthy competition between us.
WWG: Emma, did you take great pride in getting the better of your brothers?
Emma: The competition started kicking in when we got into our teens. We’d have a tab going between us and I could be losing to Rafa but there was still time to come out on top!
WWG: You’ve played some events on the Ladies European Tour. Has Rafa’s European Tour career been a source of inspiration for you?
Emma: Absolutely. My best example is when Rafa won in Austria. I was playing at the LPGA Q-School and I shot the best round of the day after watching him win. It made it even more special because my younger brother Miguel was caddying for me on the day.
WWG: You said you enjoy watching Rafa playing and always try to make time to do it even if you’re travelling?
Emma: Yes, I always love to watch him, especially when he is playing well! If he’s on TV, it means he is playing well. If not I’m constantly checking his updates on my phone. Some of my friends say it’s boring watching golf but when you are invested in the person you are watching you get to see and feel all the tension.
WWG: What are the most admirable parts of Rafa’s game?
Emma: Rafa is a well-rounded player. He can pull off any shot he needs to at any given moment, which is his great strength. He is usually very consistent and puts himself into contention most of the time. This can only be done if your whole game is working well.
WWG: What are the most admirable parts of Emma’s game, Rafa?
Rafa: Emma always plays with an open mind and enjoys the game. She handles pressure extremely well and plays golf the way it should be played which is fantastic.
WWG: Is there an added pressure on Emma and Miguel in that they play professional golf but have more financial challenges such as arranging things like accommodation and flights compared to the elite category that you are in, Rafa?
Rafa: That is just the way golf works. People look at me when I’m on TV and think we are doing great and have an unbelievable lifestyle and they are right. However, this is not the normality. We are very fortunate to be among the elite golfers. Other professional golfers have a completely different lifestyle. The good thing about golf is that nobody can kick you out of where you deserve to be. It’s all down to merit.
WWG: Do you find it a challenge planning which tournaments you would like to play, Emma, and organising the trip?
Emma: Anything backstage that you don’t see on TV is a whole lot of work. Regardless of what tour you are playing, everybody is waking up in a morning and coming down to the golf course to practice their routines. It’s the same if you are on the mini tour but obviously the prizemoney is much lower. Backstage is similar but it’s the front stage that’s paradoxical.
WWG: You’ve studied for a Business degree at the same time as playing golf, Emma. Was that part of a plan to have something to fall back on away from the game or is it just a passion of yours?
Emma: I am very passionate about golf and have a desire to have a CV that talks about 360 degrees golf. This would involve playing golf, organising events, coaching, marketing and manufacturing in different aspects of the game. That’s what I’m building right now. Men have long-lasting professional careers in golf that span to around 15 years and more, whereas women only have around eight years on average. I always think that if you want a different career after golf, you should learn something new, then if you love golf you can apply what you learn to the sport.
WWG: Last time you played in the Omega Dubai Ladies Masters in 2011, Rafa did something spectacular on that same golf course at the start of 2012. You’ll always be known for that victory in the Dubai Desert Classic in this part of the world Rafa, so have you got any tips for Emma ahead of this year’s tournament at Emirates Golf Club?
Rafa: Maybe I can give her a couple of tips. However, her game is good and she knows the course very well, too. I will offer my help to her but her game plan is already great.
WWG: Can you run us through that famous victory, Rafa, and what it meant to you in your career?
Rafa: It was an amazing week. I shot nine-under on the first day so I was leading from the off. I felt I was in contention which I enjoy because it means that all your shots matter and that everyone is paying attention to all your moves. I was playing great and feeling very comfortable after a decent streak of results prior to the event. Having the chance to win and taking risks like I did on the 16th that came off was unbelievable. To go ahead of Lee Westwood and Stephen Gallacher in the final group and win the tournament was amazing. It catapulted me up the World Rankings and opened the door for me to enter the Majors. It feels like it happened a while ago now so I’m keen to repeat the feat in another tournament.
WWG: How nice would it be to do a Cabrera-Bello double at Emirates Golf Club?
Emma: That would be brilliant. To be honest, I’m not playing full-time anymore so it will be difficult to happen but I’ll try my best and see how well I play. You never know, golf is a magical thing and it’s a course I know extremely well. It was so enjoyable watching Rafa win there. I know the course and was so nervous when Rafa ended up on the right on the 16th. I couldn’t see the hole but he saw it. Then the putt he made on the 17th was superb. I was jumping around in my room when he sank it. What a memorable moment. n
