Early Career
Echenique was born in 1980 in San Luis, Argentina. He starred in Argentina's amateur golf circles in the late 90s, topping the amateur ranks in 1999. He turned professional on the Latin America tour in 2000.
Success in Latin America
Echenique played well on the Latin American tour, notching six top 10 finishes between 2001 and 2005. His first important professional win came in the 2006 Telia Challenge Waxhelm. Telia is a stop on the Challenge Tour, the training ground for the European professional tour. He also won Argentina's National Open Championship in 2006.
European Highlights
Prior to his brilliant day at the BMW Open, Echenique finished second at the 2007 TCL Classic in China and fourth at the 2008 Celtic Manor Wales Open. He tied for first in the 2009 International Final Qualifying for the British Open. He failed to make the cut in the 2009 Open itself, shooting a first-round 72.
Career Profile
Echenique has yet to claim a European Tour title. He has maintained his tour card with a No. 113 ranking in 2007 and a No. 90 ranking in 2008. Consistency remains a concern, as evidenced by his lack of wins. Still, he's had many top 10 finishes and remains one of the European game's most popular players.
Personal
Echenique lives in Madrid with his wife and two children. He's demonstrated a growing command of English, suggesting an attempt at the PGA tour could be among his ambitions. He's close friends with European Tour golfer Andres Romero, a fellow Argentine.
About The Author
James Bolger has spent two decades writing on health, nutrition, golf, fitness, travel, insurance, and more. Bolger served as managing editor for "Maturity Matters," a newsletter on senior lifestyles, and "Your Health and Fitness," a consumer health magazine. He has also written on health and medical research for academic medical centers. Bolger earned his Bachelor of Arts in communications/English from DePaul University.
