Spain’s Sergio Garcia rebounded from a horror fourth hole double bogey to play the next 14 holes in seven under par in a round of 67 on the opening day of the Shell Houston Open.
Garcia put his second shot into the water down the left side of the par five fourth before his fourth was just short of the putting surface from where he chipped to three feet and two-putted.
But to his enormous credit Garcia, who is contesting the Houston event for only a third occasion in his career, then capped his round with three birdies in succession from the eighth hole of the Golf Club of Houston course.
The highlight of his round was holing a bunker shot from 40 feet back left of the green for birdie.
Sergio Garcia speaking in Spanish to young fan after his round of 67. (Photo – www.golfbytourmiss.com)
“I am very happy with a 67 and even moreso after not having the best of starts,” he said.
“To be two over par after four holes in windy conditions wasn’t all that good so I am very happy with that and hopefully I can produce more of the same for the rest of the week.”
Garcia made his debut in Houston in 2009 but after scores of 67 and 71 he then produced scores of 74 and 81 over the weekend and then went to Augusta to share 38th place.
He returned last year and it was not any better with rounds of 74 and 80 to miss the Houston cut and a week later also played only two rounds in the year’s first Major.
“This Houston golf course is obviously easier than Augusta National might be next week, but’s it’s also asking you to hit a lot of tense shots, lot of tight shots with water and things like that,” he said.
“It’s kind of putting you in a similar situation to what you might experience next week, more or less.”
When Garcia arrives at Augusta National it will be remarkably be the 35-year old’s 18th Masters since making his debut as the then British Amateur champion in 1998, and where he made the cut to share 38th place.
And it was a good Three-ball Garcia found himself with Matt Kuchar shooting also a 67 and Rickie Fowler a 69.
