May 6, 2016 – This season we are seeing how Galvin Green, the leading brand in technical golf apparel, backs emerging golfers around the world: English player Gary Boyd, the Dane Morten Örum Madsen and American Daniel Im on European Tour; Canadian Taylor Pendrith and American Greg Yates and Doug Letson on the Web.com Tour; German Karolin Lampert on the Ladies European Tour; and also the Spanish player Gerard Piris on the European Challenge Tour.

Indeed Gerard Piris has been one of the latest signings of the Swedish brand, which already dresses other top pros in the Peninsula such as the Spanish players Carlos Pigem, Alvaro Velasco and Mireia Prat, in addition to the Portuguese Ricardo Gouveia and Tiago Cruz. After having played some events equipped by Galvin Green, we interviewed him to get to know him a little more and find out how he feels about his new clothing.

MYGOLFWAY: How did you start playing golf?
GERARD PIRIS: I started because I live in Raimat, Lleida, next to the golf course. I had played soccer since I was five years old in the Union Esportiva Lleida, and at home there was a lot of talk about football because my cousin, Jofre Mateu, is a soccer player and even played in the first division under Van Gaal. One summer, with a group of friends and encouraged by our mothers, we went to have a go to golf. I found that I liked it, I was quite good at it, and so I carried on… until today. The truth is, I never imagined I would end up playing golf.

MGW: What are your best memories before you became a pro?
GP: As an amateur, at the age of 15, I joined the National Team. Then I won the Spanish Junior Championship and also I won the Individual World University Championships (2010). Then I played the Absolute World Amateur in Argentina teaming with Adrian Otaegui and Nacho Elvira.

MGW: And the time came to consider turning pro…?
GP: Yes, that’s when you ask yourself if you really like it, if you’re good enough… but when the time came I was clear. I love golf and decided that golf should be part my life.

In November 2011 I turned professional, and made my debut in the Catalan Professional tour final, which I won. Then I went to play the Alps Tour School and got the card, so I started combining the Alps Tour and Challenge Tour thanks to RFEG invitations for neo pros.

As a professional he went from playing 14 or 15 weeks to 25 to 30 weeks per year, and as it was difficult to combine this with his studies, he decided to focus only on professional golf.

The first year was one of adaptation, but his second and third years were poor due to injuries to his back, ribs … and he was out of the game for three months. From then on, he’s taken great care of his physical preparation. That season he played all the Alps and in 2015 he played without being troubled.

“A few anecdotes from The Alps Tour 2015: I won a tournament, I lost another in the play-off, I made a third place because when I was co-leader I did a quadruple bogey on the 17th… things that happen… and in the last event at the end of the Alps season where the prizes were better, I was fourth 2 shots behind the leader, but as the last day was cancelled due to a storm, I was left one shot away from entry to the Challenge Tour through the Alps Tour”.

Then he managed to get through the first and second stages of the Qualifying School for the European Tour. But in his first School Final he missed the cut, even though he has some 15 Challenge Tour events secured this year, plus what he can play by ranking.

MGW: It must be a great incentive that Galvin Green has decided to equip you, as it is a brand reserved for a small number of golfers on Tour.
GP: The truth is that I already knew Galvin Green quite well. I’m in the same training group as others of its Spanish players: Alvaro Velasco, Carlos Pigem and Mireia Prat, with the same physical trainer Joan Soler. The brand has given me this opportunity and I am delighted to join the team.

MGW: Having already played several events with Galvin Green, what do you value most in your new apparel?
GP: Well, a little of everything. Being in this brand is very exclusive. There aren’t many professionals who dress with it on Tour, and they are all very good. The garments fit the body perfectly, every piece looks good, the fabrics are very technical and pleasant, with bright colours which you can combine together and above all, you can be different from the rest, which is why a I like so much.

MGW: What do you like most about the complete range of this clothing brand?
GP: From the thermal base layer to the knitted sweater, through the Insula jacket and Windstopper jacket or the Gore-Tex rain suit. I take it all with me to every event so that I can use the right layer combination. I like the rain suit because it is very thin and super light. It is amazing to see that the water drops don’t get through and you feel completely dry inside.

What I use most are the Ventil8 polo shirts, which I love for the variety and the fabrics. They keep you cool despite the heat. They have beautiful colours and they just fit superbly. And the trousers are also fantastic, they fit, they’re elastic, and I’ve never worn anything so comfortable before. I’d be delighted if I could stay my entire life with this brand.

MGW: What is your favourite colour?
GP: I don’t really have one, I feel good with everything. I have polo shirts in blue, black, white, grey, and green pearl. I’ve always liked blue, so there’s no doubt that I’ll combine black pants with a blue polo with black details, or with an all white polo.

MGW: Do you think it is going to help you to get good results?
GP: There is a phrase we always comment with a friend of mine: ‘If you look good, you play good’, and certainly everything helps. If you feel good, you feel you look good… yes, sure. In addition to helping on days with complicated weather, on any day if you look good, with clothes that suit you and combine well, at least for me these are extra points for playing better.

MGW: And finally, what is your dream?
GP: I think I’m already living my dream. I dedicate myself to what I love, and clearly I hope to earn my living on the European Tour and playing in the best tournaments.

And I hope that after a while, when I’m on the European Tour, I can continue to dress with Galvin Green. I wouldn’t mind wearing this brand till the end of my days as a golfer.

PLAYER’S INFO: GERARD PIRIS MATEU

• Lleida (19/03/1989). Raimat Golf Club.
• Professional since 2012. 2016 European Challenge Tour card.

BEST RESULTS

• Wins: 2016 Fourball Championship PGAs of Europe (with Ivo Giner); 2015 Frassanelle Open Alps Tour; 2012 Catalan Tour Final
• 2nd: 2015 Servizitalia Open Alps Tour
• 3rd: 2012 Castellón Alps Tour, 2015 Mont Garni Alps Tour
• 4th: 2016 Gran Prix Segura Viudas (Gambito Premium); 2015 Israel Masters Alps Tour 
• 5th: 2015 Spanish Professional Championship
• Alps Tour Ranking: 10th (2015)

More information at…

• The Galvin Green collection is sold via golf stores and golf pro shops.
• Visit the store locator to find your nearest retailer.
• See all the collection at www.galvingreen.com.
• Galvin Green is distributed in Spain and Portugal by Farol Lda. company.
• Contact at spain.portugal@galvingreen.com, tel. +351 917 242 567, mobile 686 632 907.

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