Hilton Head, SC …

Fellow Masters winners Danny Willett and Vijay Singh have joined other Major Champions in singling out new Masters Champion Sergio Garcia for very special praise.

It was Willett who fitted Garcia with the Augusta National members green jacket and with everyone looking on clearly delighted in how the European pair interacted on the presentation green.

“Last week was a great week and as for the two guys fighting it out on Sunday, it could not have been a better week,” said Willett

“Either Justin or Sergio would have been a great champion and knowing them both so well, and how it kind of turned out I am sure a lot of very happy Sergio won.

“Sergio and I are good pals and it’s nice when you see one of your friends succeed and I am especially happy for Sergio to finally knocking off his first Major and knowing now what it means for his career.

“He’s been so good for so long and he’s done everything else he would want to do in a career and now’s he’s finally got that first, and it wouldn’t surprise he quickly knocks off a second.”

Singh captured the 2000 Masters and the second of three Majors for the now 54 year old Fijian who will be among those present at next years annual Former Champions Dinner at Augusta to be hosted by Garcia

“It was an unbelievable win and if anyone deserved it, it was him,” said Singh.

“Sergio is a good guy and he has come close so many times, and he played the best golf all last week at the Masters.

“Whoever would won whether it was Justin or Sergio they would be great Masters Champions but I was so pleased to see Sergio win”.

Other Major Champions competing at this weeks RBC Heritage delighted for Garcia include …

Geoff Ogilvy – 2006 US Open.

“I sort of grew up at the same time Sergio was playing US Amateurs and British Amateur championships, so along with Justin Rose, Adam Scott, Trevor Immelman and all that kind of group we have known each other for a long time.

“I first saw Sergio at the 1999 Open Championship and he had qualified, and he was only 16, in winning the European Amateur title, and when you are an amateur golfer you are aware of the all the other good amateurs in the world.  I had failed to qualify for The Open so I went out and watched Tiger Woods one day and then saw Sergio but he was only about five foot high but just smashing the ball.

“So, he’s been one of the most talented guys ever and I remember him winning the Irish Open in his fourth event because I played in the field that week at Druids Glen and I thought this guy is just going to go onto greatness as I was just months later he nearly won the PGA Championship.

“He’s the one out of all of us, and all those guys in the group, who everyone thought would go onto greatness and while he has won a ton of tournaments it just to him a bit so to see him win on Sunday, well I could not have been happier for him.

“It was extra amazing as they are both my friends, he and Justin, but it was just slightly more amazing for Sergio to win a first Major.

“And the way it happened, it was like he just rid himself of all the demons he had been collecting for all those many years”.

Martin Kaymer –  Winner of the 2010 PGA Championship & 2014 US Open.

“Sergio’s got one but then I’ve got two,” said Kaymer laughing.

“Seriously, I was very, very pleased for Sergio as have been most of the people as he has been so close, so many times.  But when he missed that putt on the 18th in regulation I thought “Oh, no”. He has been through so much of situations like that in his career when it came down to times like those on Sunday to win a Major.

“But now and with everything in his personal life being so much in place it was just a great time for him to win a first Major.

“I think also that he can go on and win a couple more Major Championships, and while he was never lacking the confidence, he just needed to get over that line and now that he is over that line why can’t he win more.

“And when you look at our Ryder Cup careers he was one of the first to come up to me and put his arm around me to welcome me to the European Team, so he always made you feel very comfortable as he is a very generous person,

“Of course, some people do not like him, given that episode with Tiger in the past, but at least he has an opinion and he has had to apologise for a few things sometimes in his life but all that aside, he is a very well deserved champion.”

Graeme McDowell – 2010  US Open winner.

“Sergio and I have always got on well together and I have always found his passion very infectious particularly at the Ryder Cup, and he is one of the better athletes out here.

“He is one of the guys also that when he is in the mood he is very dangerous and when he is not in the mood, he is very dangerous in another way.

“I remember my first Ryder Cup and I was playing on Saturday morning in the Foursomes with Miguel Angel Jimenez and here was Westwood and Garcia standing on the side of the tee box watching.  I was 29 years old playing in my first Ryder Cup and I am was totally nervous with these two guys watching me tee off.  They were my heroes and I grew up watching them and they are now watching me.

“But then Sergio has always been one of the guys who has been that impressive as he is such a great classic striker of the golf ball.

“I watched quite a bit of him last week and he looked as though he was really in control of the golf ball and while it hard not to also be pulling for Rosey, I was so happy for Sergio.

“So, it was not like I was pulling against Justin given a European had never won a US Open and the Masters.

“And listening to the coverage driving up here to Hilton Head I was also thinking about Westwood as a I watched and was thinking what this could trigger something to his mentality?”

“You see another guy do something, I wouldn’t be surprised if he won at Royal Birkdale later this year at The Open. Just that little something that kicks off in the back of your brain – maybe we can do it.”

Davis Love 111  –  1997 PGA Championship, 2010 & 2014 USA Ryder Cup Captain.

“I am thrilled for Sergio and I kept saying I was going to stay around in case he won and go out there on the 18^th green like “Kuch” (Matt Kuchar) did but when he hit those poor drives and taking bogeys early on the back nine and then when he hit that drive into the bushes on 13, I thought to myself “Oh, no”.

“That’s when I left the course as I was due in Myrtle Beach on Monday for a Pro-Am.

“But found myself stopping not too far away to watch the last few holes on TV and I thought to myself that Sergio is going to win.

“I had thought Sergio was going to win in regulation so I was happy for him as he has been so close, so many times.

“He’s a great competitor and he’s had his ups and downs with the fans but you could tell they were really pulling for him.”

 

“The thing I’ve known Sergio as long time since my son was little, so I was happy for him, I was genuinely happy.

“The fact that Sergio has said out loud a few times that maybe he was not built for the Majors was his way of trying to take the pressure of his shoulders or something.

“Sergio has been playing a long time but he is still young enough to win a second Major and now having won a first will give him that much more confidence in his putting and all aspects of the game.”

“And now that he is a Major Champion they are going to love him over here.”

Jim Furyk – 2003 US Open winner, 2018 USA Ryder Cup Captain

“Sergio is a phenomenal talent and an amazing game.

“It’s hard to imagine that he’s in his late 30s.  Thirty-seven that’s late 30s. Over 35. It’s hard to imagine that’s his first victory in a major. I think most guys would have the opinion I do, that, yeah, I’m kind of happy to see him.

“It kind of gets the monkey off the back, he doesn’t have to answer that question anymore, which I know is enjoyable.

“But more importantly he probably just really enjoyed the moment. And looked like he had a smile on his face, a clenched fist, and something that he’ll cherish and have for the rest of his life. And he’s been so good for so long. I don’t know if the game ever owes you anything, but he certainly was due.”