Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Sergio Garcia feeling at home in Texas Open
SAN ANTONIO — Sergio Garcia had a long history with Texas even before he became a part-time resident.
He made his PGA Tour debut as a pro in 1999 at the Byron Nelson Classic and caused an immediate sensation with the gallery outside Dallas when he made eight birdies in 15 holes and had a chance for a 59 when he had a 4-iron into the par-5 16th hole. He finished par-parbogey for a 62 and tied for third that week.
Two years later, the Spaniard won his first PGA Tour event at Colonial, the first of three victories in the Lone Star State.
Now, the connection extends to family. He married Angela Akins last summer, and he’s based out of the Austin area when he’s playing in America. That’s where he was last week after missing the cut at the Masters, for a family gathering of both parents and plenty of doting on Azalea, their 5-week-old daughter.
“Changed a lot of nappies,” Garcia said. “We went to the ranch a couple of times. We practiced a little bit with my dad. I played a member-member at Austin Golf Club with Ben Crenshaw — we managed to win it, too. So just kind of kept myself busy.”
Garcia also has a connection to the Valero Texas Open.
He was the consultant to Greg Norman in designing the AT&T Oaks Course at the TPC San Antonio, which will be used for the ninth straight year at the Texas Open. Garcia played that first year and broke par only once while tying for 45th.
Now he’s back to compete against a field that includes Adam Scott, Ernie Els and defending champion Kevin Chappell. Also in the field is Joaquin Niemann of Chile, the No. 1 amateur in the world who makes his pro debut this week at 19 — the same as Garcia when he turned pro.
“It doesn’t feel that long ago I was in that situation and I was looking up to my idols and my role models in golf and trying to learn anything I could from them,” Garcia said. “So it is fun, and it’s an honor, to be in the other side of a situation.”
The Texas Open falls into a quiet part of the PGA Tour schedule — two weeks after the Masters, three weeks before The Players Championship. That won’t be the case the next year when the Texas Open moves to the week before the Masters.