"We are in shock. This is a great tragedy." The news of the death of the wife of Argentine golfer Emilio 'Puma' Domínguez shocked the sports world this weekend. The 38-year-old from San Luis had to withdraw from a tournament in Guadalajara (Mexico) when he learned that the health of his wife, María Victoria De La Mota Claverie, had deteriorated while she was hospitalized for having contracted dengue.
The tragic outcome occurred on Saturday and was confirmed in the last few hours by the official website of the Latin American PGA circuit.
Domínguez had married 'Vicky' - 33 years old - in 2016 and they had become parents of Constantino and Hipólito, 4 and 1 year old, respectively. "Victoria's health deteriorated so quickly that she died while Puma was making the more than 7,000 kilometer journey home," the PGA Tour's official website said.
De La Mota Claverie, whose funeral was held this Sunday at the Garden of Memory cemetery in the capital of San Luis, was a designer and, according to her profile on the Linkedin social network, she had worked at the Kosiuko company for seven years.
The photos of the couple and their children just a year ago, when in March 2023 'Puma' Domínguez was crowned champion of the third edition of the San Luis Open and celebrated with them, quickly went viral on social networks.
The sad news also affected friends and colleagues on the Tour during the early hours of Saturday. "Having shared countless tournaments and trips with the 'Puma', a warm and affable person, the Argentine players competing in Mexico were especially disturbed," the PGA explained.
The phrase that begins this note was spoken by his old friend and professional partner Rafael Echenique, who grew up playing with Puma at the San Luis Golf Club in his hometown.
"The truth is that I have made much happier cards of 65 strokes," said Jaime López Rivarola from Buenos Aires in a sad tone after a round of seven birdies and one bogey in the Totalplay Championship at Atlas Country Club in Guadalajara, Mexico.
"With the news we received (Saturday) morning, it was difficult to get going and concentrate. I did well, but it was a strange day and without much emphasis on golf," López Rivarola added. "We want ('Puma') to know that all of his friends and colleagues are here thinking about him. We don't want him to feel alone," he concluded.
In support of 'Puma' and his family, during Sunday's final round at Atlas Country Club, players and Tour staff wore black ribbons on their clothing. "We must ask God for him and his family so that they remain strong and can handle this very difficult moment in the best possible way," Echenique concluded.
A professional since 2005, Domínguez has competed on the Tour of the Americas (2007-2012), the PGA TOUR Latinoamérica (2012-2023), the European Challenge Tour (2007-2008) and the Korn Ferry Tour, of which he was a member in 2017 .
After recovering from career-threatening wrist surgery, he won the PGA TOUR Latinoamérica Argentina Classic in 2019 for his only victory in 152 tournaments sanctioned by PGA TOUR tours.
This season he joined PGA TOUR Americas as a conditional member after finishing 63rd on the 2023 PGA TOUR Latinoamérica points list.
