The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Garcia strong favourite after Ryder Cup magic
Defending champion Sergio Garcia is a strong favourite to win the Andalucia Valderrama Masters for the third time on his first start since becoming the top points scorer in Ryder Cup history in Europe’s victory at Le Golf National.
Garcia won three of his four matches in Paris to surpass Nick Faldo with 25-and-a-half points from his nine appearances in the biennial contest.
“It was great to beat the record. Not only because I’m on top of some amazing players – some of my idols – but because it means I was able to help the European team for a long time and that’s what makes me proud,” he said.
“To help the team win as many times as we have lately, it is always an honour.”
Despite a top-10 finish in his last strokeplay event in Portugal, Garcia has fallen outside the world’s top 30 for the first time since October 2011, although coincidentally he then won the Andalucia Masters for the first time before it dropped off the schedule for five years.
Seven Scots – Bradley Neil, Connor Syme, Richie Ramsay, David Drysdale, Stephen Gallacher, Marc Warren and Duncan Stewart – are in the line-up with several needing points in the bird to retain their tour card. Also in the field at Real Club Valderrama are Ryder Cup captain Thomas Bjorn and two of his vice-captains from Paris, Padraig Harrington and Lee Westwood.