New Game, New Thinking: Alejandro Canizares profile

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He's the son of a Ryder Cup hero, listens to classic rock and loves hanging at his beach home with his girlfriend. But rookie CANIZARES wants one more notation in his PGATOUR.COM biography ... winner. Recently, PGATOUR.COM's Rudy Klancnik caught up with the young Spainard before the first round of the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open in Las Vegas.

PGATOUR.COM: OK, I need to ask this first very important question ... have you met Justin Timberlake yet?

CANIZARES: No, I haven't seen him. But I'll say hello for you when I do.

PGATOUR.COM: Awesome. Get me an autograph if you get a chance.

CANIZARES: Uh, no, I don't think I'll go that far.

PGATOUR.COM: Not a problem. I understand that you don't want to show your excitement over seeing such a pop legend.

CANIZARES: I'm more of a classic rock guy. Pink Floyd. The Doors. Those are the groups I prefer.

PGATOUR.COM: You're 25 years old. How do you know about Pink Floyd and The Doors?

PGATOUR.COM: My brother introduced me to lots of classic rock. I really enjoy that type of music. My brother is older so I followed a lot of things he likes.

PGATOUR.COM: You certainly have quite a golfing family with your father (Jose Maria Canizares) being such a great player during his era.

CANIZARES: I honestly don't think I could beat him right now the way I've been playing. My dad was a legend around the world. He was a great player, a Ryder Cup champion and a perfect person to learn from.

PGATOUR.COM: With such a rich heritage, do you ever feel pressure to follow his footsteps at the highest level?

CANIZARES: Not really. My father told me how hard this career path would be, and he was right. I've really struggled this year. I was the last qualifier in q-school, and I spent my first three months over here just trying to get into a tournament. I made only three fields.

PGATOUR.COM: Why was it so tough to just get into the field?

CANIZARES: Early in the season, the fields are smaller because there's not as much sunlight. I couldn't get a break and didn't get in many fields. That hurt my game because I wasn't consistently competing from week to week.

PGATOUR.COM: Once you did start making tournaments, you made several cuts but not a lot of money. What's been your major obstacle?

CANIZARES: It's been a combination of things, but overall I just haven't been able to put it all together. I'm making it to the weekend but not playing well enough to make any real money. That's got to change the final four tournaments or I'll be on the outside looking in on the PGA TOUR.

PGATOUR.COM: Without a win down the stretch, that might be the eventuality, right?

CANIZARES: That's right. I need to win, and that's my goal -- to be a winner at one of the final four. I really don't have anything to lose down the stretch. I'm already set for the European Tour next year, so I've got a good fall-back plan. I don't live over here. I'm just staying at hotels when I play in the States. So if I do play in Europe all season next year, that would be fine.

PGATOUR.COM: I'm sure it's nice to get home, especially to that home cooking.

CANIZARES: That's what I miss the most when I'm in the States. My mom's cooking is the best. I live two miles from the ocean and can see the water from my house, so everything works out pretty nicely.

PGATOUR.COM: Sounds good. Seems like life is going OK. But what drives you on the golf course?

CANIZARES: Playing in the Ryder Cup for Europe is everything for me. That's my priority, my No. 1 goal over the next two years. It is my biggest and most important dream to play in the Ryder Cup. My dad made the putt in the 1989 Ryder Cup that allowed Europe to retain the Cup. I was just 6 years old, but I still remember it. I want to be in those types of situations on that stage.

PGATOUR.COM: Your dad obviously is your hero. But you had to have that "I beat dad" moment growing up with him on the course.

CANIZARES: I got to caddie for him in the summer, which was great experience. I caddied for him on the Champions Tour. It took me a long time before I finally beat him. I think I was around 18 or 19 when it first happened. That was a big day, I'll tell you that.