Beth Ann Nichols

Golfweek

SAINT-QUENTIN-EN-YVELINES, France — The European Ryder Cup team will wear yellow ribbons this week in memory of Spain's Celia Barquin Arozamena, the former Iowa State player who was killed last week on a golf course in Ames, Iowa.

Barquin Arozamena's murder sent shock waves throughout the golf world.

"The golfing family extends way beyond what we are trying to do this week," said European captain Thomas Bjorn. "You know, those events in America with Celia being killed playing golf is something that's hit everybody in the golf family, and obviously our two Spanish players very much. And we felt like that after a conversation from Ryder Cup Europe with Celia's mother, that we would honor her this week."

A photograph of a young Barquin Arozamena kissing Sergio Garcia, her hero, was among the Iowa State star's most prized possessions. Barquin Arozamena's mother told Ryder Cup Europe officials that she was proud and humbled by the gesture, noting that she and Celia talked about the upcoming Ryder Cup in their last conversation.

The ribbons will be made available for all Ryder Cup participants. The players' wives and partners will wear yellow roses during Thursday's opening ceremony.

Iowa State's football stadium was awash in yellow, Barquin Arozamena's favorite color, for Saturday's game against Akron. College golf teams across the country will wear yellow ribbons throughout the 2018-19 season in her honor.

"Such a great prospect for the game of golf, she was, but also a wonderful person," said Bjorn. "And when you speak to Sergio and Jon (Rahm) about it, they will both — they couldn't talk highly enough about her. We felt like that was appropriate for the week."