SERGIO INSPIRED BY SEVE SPIRIT
Garcia targets Augusta glory as tribute to close friend and mentor Ballesteros
SERGIO GARCIA wants to win the Masters for his hero Seve Ballesteros as he stormed into contention at Augusta. The Spaniard carded a second round 69 in Georgia to go four-under par alongside American Charley Hoffman.
Seve had an aura. His passing still makes me sad, I miss him very much SERGIO GARCIA
SERGIO GARCIA will call on the spirit of Seve Ballesteros when he bids to win the Masters on what would have been the great Spaniard’s 60th birthday tomorrow. But the world No.11 admitted he faces a real fight not be overcome by emotion. Ballesteros, who died in 2011, was the first European to win a Green Jacket in 1980. Now Garcia, part of the 2012 Ryder Cup team who wore Seve’s silhouette on their uniforms at the Miracle of Medinah, is in the running to finally win his first Major at the age of 37 at his 74th attempt after following his opening bogeyfree 71 with a 69. He shared the clubhouse lead with Charley Hoffman on fourunder par. Garcia said: “Everyone knows how much Seve means to us all in Spanish golf. “We all know it would have been his birthday on Sunday. I was a big fan of his – I still am. He had an aura. His passing still makes me sad. I miss him very much. “Basically, he’s a hero. But I don’t want to get ahead of myself. I don’t even want to think about it or I will get a bit sensitive. “There are a lot of holes that have to be played, hopefully I will have that problem. It will be a nice problem to have. “It would mean a lot to win on his 60th birthday. It’s difficult to describe it until it happens. But it’s Friday, not Sunday. “So hopefully, we’ll be standing here talking about that feeling again. That would be the best thing that could happen to me and you know, I’m going to do my best to make sure I’m here to tell you how it feels.” In his 19th consecutive Masters appearance, Garcia birdied the first three holes for the first time and hit “the best bunker shot of my life” at the 12th. His round could have been even better but he missed a downhill birdie putt at the last. “That is the best I have played Augusta and I have been coming here a while. I am very happy. “Today I made three bogeys but I felt I hit the ball better than yesterday. Things are happening and I want to ensure I keep riding that wave.” Garcia infamously declared he could never win a Major after a third round 75 here in 2012 but his January engagement to former Golf Channel reporter Angela has helped his game and his attitude.
He added: “I am calmer now. I am working on trying to accept things that can happen here. You can have bad moments and bad breaks and you have to move on.
“All the good things that happen in life help with your professional job and needs. All those good things, being surrounded by good people who are not afraid to tell you if you have done something wrong. I am trying to change a bit in that respect.”
Hoffman, who opened with a 65, shot a 75 yesterday. He said: “It was a lot more difficult today. I’m going to keep the same mindset though.
“When I’m in position, I’m going to attack and try to make birdies and when I’m not I’m going to try to just have a par putt at it” Meanwhile, Rory McIlroy, below left, has promised to launch an all-out attack to close the gap on the leaders today.
The world No.2 had seemed set for a strong finish to his second round when he birdied 17 but his approach to 18 hit the flag and rolled off the green.
He chipped up to four feet but missed the par putt for a 73 to finish one-over par.
Twelve months ago the world No.2 started the third round a shot off the lead in the final group but shot a 77 to fall down the field. McIlroy said: “I was more in defence mode than attack in similar conditions last year. It’s a completely different mindset going out there to make birdies rather than not to make bogey. “I’ll approach tomorrow with a completely different mindset. I am close enough to the leaders.
“There are 36 holes left – a long way and I know what can happen, good and bad around this golf course.
“A couple of years ago over the weekend I shot 10 under par on the weekend.
“Anything’s possible but I feel like I’m playing well enough and I’m in a good frame of mind where I can go out there and attack and make some birdies.
“I’m a little disappointed with what happened at the last there – I thought the shot was perfect.
“I’ve just got to go out and birdie the first tomorrow and all will be forgotten.”