Just weeks after Sergio Garcia admitted he could not win a Major Championship and he’s revealed in a frank discussion winning a Major is not important in his life.
Garcia confessed his career and his life is complete even without the one glaring omission – a Major Championship victory.
Garcia returns to competition at this week’s BMW International Open in Cologne after finishing in a share of 38th place in last week’s U.S. Open in San Francisco.
Sergio Garcia in upbeat mode despite frank admission winning a Major is not a concern in his life. (Photo - www.golfbytourmiss.com)
It was Garcia’s 55th appearance in a Major since making his debut at the 1996 British Open as the then Spanish Under-16, Under-18 and Under-21 Amateur champion.
Garcia has been three times runner-up at the game’s highest level firstly as a youthful 19-year old in his first PGA Championship showing in 1999.
Eight years later at the 2007 British Open Garcia stood in the middle of the final fairway and in the last group at Carnoustie with victory virtually in hand only to lose out to Ireland’s Padraig Harrington in a play-off.
Harrington again denied Garcia 13 months later at the 2008 PGA Championship.
Garcia along with a handful of players including England’s Lee Westwood, Scotland’s Colin Montgomerie and Australia’s Adam Scott remains one of the best players not to win a Major.
However it’s something that Garcia admits is not a concern.
“If I don’t have a Major, what can I do?” he said.
“I’m not going to take my life because I don’t win a Major. Fortunately I have a lot of other things that maybe some those guys who have won Majors don’t have.
“Many things, many friends, many other hobbies that make me happy.
“So you know, some guys need to win a Major, some guys don’t.”
Garcia’s next Major will be the July 22nd commencing British Open at Royal Lytham and St. Annes, and a special venue for the Spaniard.
“I’ve played Royal Lytham twice before, once as an amateur and once as a professional,” he said.
“There is a lot of things come to mind. In ’96 I played practice rounds with Seve, which was amazing as a 16-year old playing my first British Open.
“I played really well that year but unfortunately didn’t make the cut. But in 2001, I finished ninth, which was nice.
“But I just love the British Open. I love the people that come to watch the British Open. I love the golf courses and the challenges that it provides, and that’s why it is my favourite tournament.”
Garcia tees-up on the Gut Larcenhof course outside Cologne with fond memories of having captured the 1999 German Masters on the same course.
It was his second victory in his rookie season and in only his 12th Tour event after capturing the Irish Open in his seventh appearance.
Joining Garcia is Germany’s Martin Kaymer, the highest world ranked player in the field at No. 13 and coming off a share of 15th place in San Francisco.
