Garcia reminded that time still on his side to win a major
SPRINGFIELD, N.J. » Henrik Stenson took his silver claret jug and headed straight for Switzerland to play in a charity event organized by Sergio Garcia. It turned out to be the perfect occasion to deliver an important message to the host.
Stenson was 40 when he won the British Open at Royal Troon. He had paid his dues with a trio of close calls in the majors. It was his time. Garcia has paid even more. It started when he was a 19-year-old trying to chase down Tiger Woods at Medinah. He played in the final group with Woods at Bethpage Black and Royal Liverpool. He twice was beaten in the final holes by Padraig Harrington at Carnoustie and Oakland Hills.
“Henrik, when I saw him Monday at my event in Switzerland, he said: ‘You know, I’m 40, you’re 36. You still have probably 16 more before you get there,”’ Garcia said Wednesday on the eve of the PGA Championship. “So at the end of the day, if you stay healthy, you still can give yourself a lot of chances here and there. That’s my goal, to keep giving myself chances and hopefully take as many as possible in the coming years.”
Stenson’s victory has shifted the focus to Garcia, perhaps more than any other player in the final major of the year, particularly in a season of firsttime major champions — Danny Willet at the Masters, Dustin Johnson at the U.S. Open and Stenson.
“It just shows that you’ve got to keep on trying,” Stenson said. “It was nice to see Dustin win at the U.S. Open. He’s had some close calls and some heartbreaking calls in the last four years, five years. You’ve got to keep putting yourself in position. And the more times you do that, that’s what gives you chances for it to happen.”
Lee Westwood is another player on the dubious list of “best to have never won a major.” The 43-year-old Englishman had a chance at the U.S. Open, British Open and Masters in successive years and he is among two players — Luke Donald is the other — to reach No. 1 in the world without ever having won a major. Rickie Fowler at No. 7 in the world
and Garcia (No. 10) are the only players in the top 10 who have not won a major.
Garcia is different, because he has been at a high level for so long. Just not high enough. The Spaniard is no longer as temperamental, at times petulant, as he was earlier in his career when he accomplished so much at early age that he expected so much more.
He has thrown clubs. He has kicked shoes.
Now, it almost seems as though Garcia held in July was in 1968 at Pecan Valley Country Club in San Antonio.
Eleven of the last 12 winners of the PGA Championship had already won a tournament earlier in the year.
Americans have won all but first major played at Baltusrol.
“Winning a major seems to make or break the entire year, no matter what you’ve done before or after, how many times you’ve won or not won, a major makes it a great year.”
Key statistic: Noteworthy:
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Quoteworthy: — Phil Mickelson Television (all times EDT):
Thursday and Friday, 1 p.m. to 7 p.m., TNT. Saturday, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., TNT Sports; 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. CBS. Sunday, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., TNT; 2 p.m. to 7 p.m., CBS.
is resigned that his career could end without a major, even though he has such a long road ahead of him. Yes, he is surprised to have not won a major as he approaches two decades playing them.
He said it would have bothered him five or 10 years ago, but no longer.
“I understand how difficult it is to win every week,” he said. “It doesn’t matter if it’s a major. It doesn’t matter where it is. It doesn’t matter if it’s in the U.S., in Asia, in Europe, in Africa. It is tough to win . ... ”