Pacific Palisides, CA …
History now beckons for just the second time in Sergio Garcia’s long and illustrious career.
Only once before, and in third and fourth week of October 2011, has Garcia won back-to-back titles and that was his effort in first hosting the Castellon Masters to win, and in the presence of tennis ace Raphael Nadal, by a remarkable 11 shots ahead of a week later capturing the Andalucia Masters.
Now after capturing the Omega Dubai Desert Classic a fortnight ago, Garcia makes his 2017 debut on the PGA Tour looking also to become the first Spaniard to win the Genesis Open.
Sergio Garcia makes it back-to-back wins for a first time in his career capturing the 2011 Andalucia Masters and a week after his 11-shot success in hosting the Castellon Masters. (Photo – www.europeantour)
“Well, it is nice to win no matter when and no matter where, but yeah, I guess start of the season like that it’s always nice, and to do it at a good tournament against Henrik, that we all know how good our competitor is, it obviously means a lot,” said Garcia.
“But every week is different and yeah, I’m bringing good confidence from Dubai but this is a different tournament and a different golf course and I have to ‑‑ nothing is going to be given to me so I have to go out there believing in what I’m doing, keep doing the things I’m doing and then just do the best I can.”
Garcia’s victory in the UAE was the fifth in his career ahead of the season’s first Major but then he now comes up against this week the likes of in-form and much younger trio of Justin Thomas, Hideki Matsuyama and Jordan Spieth
In fact, 10 of the world’s top dozen ranked players will tee-up in this week’s $US 7.2m event.
Sergio Garcia says at 37-year of age there’s still time ‘to get our hands on the pot’ in beating the much younger players. (Photo – www.golfbytourmiss.com)
The current World No. 9 seems to warm to the thought of duelling with players some 10 to 15 years his junior.
“No, they just play better than the older guys and I think those are trends that go back and forth,” he said.
“There’s years where you have some guys over 40 winning and then it’s like oh, what’s happening, and then you have years like this year where you have 20‑somethings winning most of the tournaments.
“So I think it’s at the beginning of the year, it just started, there’s time for all of us to get our hands in the pot and we’ll see. But it obviously shows that the quality of the young guns out there, the young players is really good”.
And Garcia, who recently became engaged to Angela Akins, was asked casually when is he planning to next shave.
“I have shaved here and there. I trim it. I trimmed it right after Dubai. And Angela likes it, so you know how it is”, he said smiling.
“And even if I did shave I would feel exactly 37. No, that wouldn’t change. No, it’s good. I like it, so it’s not a problem for me.”
