SERGIO IN GREEN
Garcia breaks through, winning his first major at Masters
Sergio Garcia celebrates after making a putt on the 18th green to clinch the Masters. Garcia beat Justin Rose on the first playoff hole Sunday at Augusta (Ga.) National Golf Club, finishing a thrilling back-and-forth battle. The win erases the stigma of being considered the best player never to win one of golf’s premier events. Garcia, 37, had played in more majors than any golfer before earning his first win.
AUGUSTA, G A. Just when everyone was beginning to write the latest chapter in the Shakespearean tragedy that is Sergio Garcia and major championships, the Spaniard flipped the script.
In a dazzling turn of events Sunday as the Georgia pines began to cast lengthy shadows on Augusta National Golf Club, Garcia recovered from a two-shot deficit with six holes to play and an errant drive on the par-5 13th that was destined for disaster to win the Masters in a playoff against Justin Rose.
After missing a birdie putt from 5 feet on the final hole of regulation play that would have won the tournament, Garcia’s gloomy futility in majors and tormented relationship with Augusta National came to an end when he won his first major title with a 12-foot birdie on the first playoff hole.
On the 60th anniversary of the birth of another dashing Spaniard, Seve Ballesteros, the controlled, patient and mature Garcia lost an early three-shot lead, fought back to force a playoff and walked toward Butler Cabin to slip on the green jacket to roars of “Ser-gio! Ser-gio! Ser-gio!”
“I thought I had it on 18, but the putt didn’t break,” Garcia said. “But I knew I was playing well. I felt today the calmest I have ever felt on a major Sunday. Even after making a couple bo-
geys, I stayed calm and I still believed. ... It’s been an amazing week, and I’m going to enjoy this for the rest of my life.”
Garcia and Rose, who both shot 69, finished at 9-under 279 before the Spaniard ended his 0for-73 drought in majors.
Five years after he said he wasn’t capable of winning a major following a miserable third round in the 2012 Masters, Garcia had every reason to pack it in several times but remained patient and undaunted instead of becoming petulant and pouty as he has in the past.
He joined Ballesteros and Jose Maria Olazabal as the only players from Spain to win the Masters.
“Obviously, this is something I’ve always wanted to do all my life, but it was never a horror movie. Maybe a drama, with a happy ending,” Garcia said. “To join my two idols is something special. Jose Maria sent me a text Wednesday night and said how much he believed in me and told me to stay patient and stay calm.”
Garcia did both when a major moment arrived on the 13th when his drive wound up under a bush. After taking a penalty drop, Garcia punched out of pine straw and got up-and-down to save par. He then birdied the 14th from close range and produced a spectacular eagle on the 15th when his second shot from 175 yards hit the flagstick. Three pars got him to the playoff, and he needed just three shots to complete his conquest.
Charl Schwartzel, the 2011 champion, closed with a 68 to grab third at 6 under. In fourth at 5 under were Matt Kuchar, who aced the 16th and shot 67, and Thomas Pieters (68), who gave a strong run at becoming the first player since Fuzzy Zoeller in 1979 to win the Masters on his first try.
Jordan Spieth and Rickie Fowler, paired in the penultimate group, fell all the way down into a tie for 11th. Spieth, who finished second, first and second in his first three Masters, shot 75. Fowler, who was trying to win his first major, shot 76.
“Disappointed,” Rose said after he fell just short of winning his second major to go with the gold medal he won in Rio. The 2013 U.S. Open champion missed an 8-footer for par on the 17th that hurt. “A lot of good things happened today. It was a good battle with Sergio. ...
“I would say this one probably is one that slipped by, for sure. I felt fantastic out there. I felt cool, calm and collected. Could I have made the putt on 17? Of course, I could. But for the most part, I’m not going to sit here and secondguess one or two shots.”
Garcia, who has complained over the years that the golf gods were out for him, got gratuitous breaks during the tournament, none more important than in the third round at the 13th. His second shot looked to be ready to nestle into Rae’s Creek, but somehow the ball stayed up on the back, from where Garcia made a birdie instead of a likely bogey.
He has been in a good mood for quite some time and rolled down Magnolia Lane into two good signs. His caddie bib number was 89. Last year’s winner, Danny Willett, had No. 89 for his bib number. Willett, who put the green jacket onto Garcia, won the Dubai Desert Classic two months before he won the 2016 Masters. Garcia won the Dubai Desert Classic two months ago.
His outstanding ball striking was evident all week, his putter trustworthy. But his attitude was the 15th club.
His caddie, Glenn Murray, said Garcia has calmed over the years. And Angela Akins, the former Golf Channel reporter Garcia began dating 15 months ago and will marry this summer, said Garcia is in a good place.
“I just think he’s still the same Sergio, but he has found a place mentally that he has been searching for,” she said. “I don’t know if that has anything to do with me or not, but he is in a good place.”
A very good place, indeed. One where he can wear a green jacket.
“To be totally honest, I am very happy but I don’t feel any different,” Garcia said. “I’m obviously thrilled what happened, but I’m still the same goofy guy.”