Garcia revels in special year but now it’s back to work
Sergio Garcia, finally a major champion, already wants to change his equipment.
It’s a tiny change, and a most appropriate one.
Standing on the 15th green yesterday at The Players Championship, the Masters champion turned to TaylorMade tour manager Keith Sbarbaro and said, “What’s the ETA on the golf ball?”
It will be the same ball with the same number — 49, to honour the year his mother was born. Garcia just wants the number to be green, the colour of the jacket he won last month at Augusta National, the one he has taken everywhere.
The 37-year-old Spaniard had played 71 majors in his professional career without winning one, and to see the emotion burst out of him when he made the final birdie putt to win the Masters in a playoff over Justin Rose made it clear how much it meant to him.
The four weeks that followed showed Garcia how much it meant to everyone else.
“I cried,” Rory McIlroy said. “The first time I saw him was when he got into our wedding on Friday night. I gave him the biggest bear hug. Just to see what he’s been through, and his struggles, and for it to be there.”
The highlight for Garcia was Santiago Bernabeu, the stadium for his beloved Real Madrid where Garcia was invited to do the ceremonial opening kickoff for El Clasico against Barcelona.
Garcia has been playing the Ryder Cup since 1999, three of them on European soil. He knows loud.
“But to walk on what I think is the best stadium in the world . . . and to have 90,000 people chanting your name, that was extremely special,” he said.
Garcia is not sure why his victory was so popular, especially after having so many tough losses in the majors where he made excuses. The texts, the hugs, the comments he has heard were validation to him that he always had their respect for his game and for being honest, even if it got him into trouble at times.
One of the fences he mended was with Padraig Harrington, who referred to Garcia as a sore loser during their battles a decade earlier. Harrington said they ran into each other at McIlroy’s wedding and it was important for them to clear the air. “Sergio made it very easy,” he said.
Life has never been more grand for Garcia. He is assured his best season ever no matter what happens the rest of the year. He is getting married in July — McIlroy will be one of his groomsmen. He is a major champion.
“He’s got to walk around with a smile on his face for the next couple years,” Jordan Spieth said. Now it’s time to get back to work. Garcia returns to a tournament where he won in 2008 and was runner-up on two other occasions.
The first step is today, where players typically are introduced by name and what tournament they have won this year.
Masters champion. How does that sound?
“I’m excited about it. I’m not going to lie to you.” Garcia said.