Fort Worth, TX …

Masters champion, Sergio Garcia says it is still too soon to be labelling his Spanish compatriot, Jon Rahm as a potential European Ryder Cup star.

The two Spanish golfers are competing alongside each other for the opening two rounds of the Dean & Deluca event at Fort Worth, Texas.

Garcia is a former champion having won the event as his first PGA Tour victory and on his debut in the event in 2oo1 while Rahm, and winner earlier this year of the Farmers Insurance Open, and as his breakthrough Tour success, is competing on the famed Colonial course for a first occasion.

Rahm upstaged the Masters champion with five birdies in a round of a four under par 66 that handed him a share of fourth place in the $US 6.7m event whereas Garcia, who is contesting the event for a first time since 2o12, had three birdies but also two bogeys in a one under 69.

And Garcia was quizzed after the round if he thought his 23 year old countryman has the goods to qualify for a European Ryder Cup team.

“I mean, we all know how good a player he is,” said Garcia.

“He obviously could be very, very important to the team, and we’re very thankful that he’s European, Spanish. But we’ll see. There is still a year and a half, year and six months to go until the Ryder Cup.

“We still all got to play our way on to that team. Then when we get there, we will try to figure out what to do to regain the Cup”.

Garcia was also asked what he liked about Rahm: “Well, it’s just he’s got a great overall game. Obviously he can hit the ball far. He hits it quite straight for how far he hits it. His iron play is solid. Chipping and putting is pretty good. His putting is really nice and chipping fairly good, too.

“It’s a good mix”.