…. Fatiha Betscher, Dubai 

Sergio Garcia is looking more noticeable than normal and looking more like a rock star in mirror sun-glasses he’s now wearing.

Of course, Garcia’s been wearing sun-glasses for some time and the 42-year-old Masters champion indicated they are not being worn to look cool on the golf course, even after posting a bogey-free five-under-par 67 on the first day of the Slync.io Dubai Desert Classic.

Garcia ended the opening round just two shots behind Dane J B Hansen who produced a mistake-free seven-under-par 65.

Sergio Garcia looking ‘cool’ in mirror shades but it’s not about the look (Photo – golfbytourmiss.com)

“I’ve been using them for some time and while we do know the owners and they are big friends of mine, as you do get older you do need to protect your eyesight more but then not only for your eyes but also your skin.

“They’re not prescription glasses, as I don’t them just yet but they’re really comfortable.

“We are working on new sunglasses for me that are more wraparound and offer the side of your eyes protection so we are going to meet-up in L.A and talk about that.

And when asked about his round, Garcia was very complimentary of the work at the Emirates Club in rebuilding all 18 greens as well as installing drainage in the greenside bunkers for the first time sinece the course was built in 1987.

“You can tell they are new greens as in taking chip shots from around the greens, it is difficult to stop the ball on the greens as they are new and they are very hard and it is something you have to be aware of this year”, he said.

“The greens are also a little bit bigger and it that does make it a little easier but in saying that the new greens now allow for new pin locations close to the edges you could not use before.

“So, it’s a great change they’ve made here at the Emirates”.