Azalea is a special flower for dad Sergio
SERGIO GARCIA has revealed it was his wife Angela’s idea to name their daughter after the place where the Spaniard’s career changed forever.
Augusta National is renowned for the azaleas that come into vivid bloom at Masters time.
The flower also gives its name to the legendary course’s par-five 13th hole.
A year ago, as the final-round tussle between Garcia and Justin Rose reached boiling point, the Spaniard drove into the azalea bushes left of the hole and was forced to take a penalty drop en route to an unexpected par.
Rose had found the green in two and needed an eagle putt to go two ahead, but missed twice and had to settle for a souldestroying par. Garcia went on to win. So it is little wonder what sprang to mind when Angela Garcia hatched her plan. “Before we were married we sort of agreed on two children so that was good,” said Garcia, who will defend his Masters title this week. “But then we started talking about names and out of the blue Angela said, ‘If it works out, why don’t we name our first kid after whatever event you win’. I thought that was a great idea. Then boom. We win the Masters.
“So we looked at a whole bunch of names like Georgia, Holly and Magnolia, but we really liked Azalea because you spell it the same way in both Spanish and English. It’s also because the 13th hole at Augusta is named Azalea and it was where everything for me changed and where I turned it around in my favour.”
Garcia added with a smile: “Can you imagine if I were to win the US Open this year at Shinnecock Hills?”
Garcia is sitting out this weekend’s tune-up event, the Houston Open, but Rose was tied for 12th, four shots off the lead, after the rain-delayed first round.