Sergio’s empire state of mind
Masters in the bag... and now he wants The Open
REAL MADRID fan Sergio Garcia reckons he won golf’s Champions League on Sunday night.
But now he’s taking aim at the Champions’ Champions League – The Open at Royal Birkdale.
The Spaniard is still getting used to wearing the Green Jacket that comes with winning The Masters and, having finally cracked the Majors after 73 without success, Garcia wants a Claret Jug to go with it.
A two-time runner-up at The Open, in 2007 and 2014, the 37-year-old now believes he can go one better in Southport this July.
And fired up after his sensational play-off win at Augusta, it looks like all the self-doubt that has weighed him down over the years has finally been lifted from his shoulders.
“It’s better late than never,” he said. “I must continue on the same path. I hope this is not the last. The Masters is like the Champions League but the British Open is the Champions’ Champions League.”
Garcia’s victory came on what would have been the 60th birthday of his hero Seve Ballesteros, who died of brain cancer in 2011.
Another of his idols, Jose Maria Olazabal, also won at Augusta.
“I dedicated the victory to Severiano,” he added in an interview with Spain’s Radio Marca. “I was able to win in the same place that my
I was able to win in the same place that my two idols had done SERGIO GARCIA
two idols had done.
“Olazabal sent me a very nice message in which he told me he loved me and that I should have a lot of confidence in myself.
“He sent me a text saying: ‘You’re one of the best golfers that’s ever been out there. It’s such a pleasure for me to call you my friend. Just go out there this week, do what you know how to do, just be yourself.’
“He also said, ‘I’m not sharing my locker (in Augusta National’s upstairs Champions Locker Room) with anyone at the moment, I want to share it with you.’
“In the end, it was just belief. I was very calm the whole week. Sunday was the calmest I’d felt almost in any tournament.”
Garcia hasn’t always had a great relationship with American crowds but he was amazed by the support he received on Sunday.
After his eagle at the par-5 15th, Garcia heard a big roar near the 18th green as he made the short walk to the 16th hole. He figured someone must have holed a big shot up ahead. Instead, some friends informed him afterward that it was just the reaction when his eagle was posted on the scoreboard.
Garcia added: “It was just amazing to feel that energy and love.”
That Green Jacket is likely to be pretty well worn in the coming months and it may even get an outing at his wedding to Angela Akins in Texas this summer.
“It hasn’t been decided yet,” he added. “But it’s a big possibility.”