The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
Garcia makes Augusta arrival a family day
AUGUSTA, Ga. — Sergio Garcia peeled back the blanket and leaned over for another peek at his 3-week-old daughter, sound asleep against her mother’s chest.
As his wife chatted with friends, he walked back over to take a purse that dangled from her arm, and then a shopping bag at her feet. He was much a doting father and husband as he was the Masters champion, and that was only fitting Sunday.
The mood is light the day before Masters week officially begins. It feels more like a day of family and celebration, enhanced by the 60 children moving out from the driving range to the chipping area to the 18th green for the Drive, Chip and Putt competition that has become a tradition since it began five years ago.
Garcia was a big part of that, too. He became the first defending champion to attend the reception Saturday night. One girl was asked for her best Garcia impersonation from his victory last year, and she crouched, clenched her fists and pumped both arms.
According to those in attendance, Garcia came on stage and showed the real thing. Garcia later went out for a practice round with his father, Victor, but not before a big Spanish celebration.
The large group next to the outdoor dining area between the clubhouse and the putting green included Garcia’s parents, his wife’s parents, two-time Masters champion Jose Maria Olazabal and Jon Rahm, who hopes to become the fourth Spaniard in a green jacket.
After speaking in English and Spanish to European Tour television, Rahm said he had to leave. “I’m going wherever he goes,” he said, nodding to where Garcia was standing, except that he was referring to Olazabal.
Rahm recalled going to a Spanish event five years ago ahead of the World Amateur Team Championship to ask Olazabal what parts of his game needed work. Olazabal told him to concentrate on his chipping and putting.
There were Masters champions all over Augusta National on Sunday, several of them presenting trophies to the various age groups of winners. Garcia, Adam Scott, Nick Faldo, Mark O’Meara, Gary Player, Ben Crenshaw and Bubba Watson were among those posing with the kids.
Tiger Woods has never missed the cut at the Masters, and even in his last full season before multiple back surgeries, his tie for 17th was his best result of the year.
Woods was not expected until Monday, and in some respects, that’s when this Masters might really come to life.
Woods hasn’t won, but he’s playing well, and that almost feels like a victory considering his four back surgeries.
“Tiger coming back is better than just playing,” Faldo said. “I think he’s ahead of schedule.”