Hilton Head, SC …
New Masters Champion Sergio Garcia has looked back 18 years not to the events at Augusta National but to Druids Glen when he claimed the first of now 31 pro career victories.
While the golf world warms to Garcia finally capturing a first Major it was on 4th July, 1999 he won a first pro title with victory in the Murphy’s Irish Open.
Garcia, then aged 19, became the fourth youngest winner in the history of the European Tour in coming two shots behind future Masters Champion Angel Cabrera and shooting a sizzling last day 64 to win by three.
Also in the field that week was Masters winners Seve Ballesteros, Bernhard Langer and Ian Woosnam along with further Major winners in Padraig Harrington, Michael Campbell and Geoff Ogilvy.
Where is all began for Sergio Garcia in winning the 1999 Irish Open & the first of now 31 pro career victories up to and including the Masters.
“Winning the Irish Open will always be very special as it was my first win as a professional and win in the way I did, with a 64, was also pretty special for me”, said Garcia.
“But I remember as many people were surprised at the time but I was not surprised as I knew I was playing well.
“And even being asked back then if I was competing just to make the cut, I would always say I was teeing-up to win.
“That was mentality back then as it has always been in my career, so I was just waiting for my time and it happened that week at Druids Glen.”
Garcia wound-up yesterday in the now traditional post-Masters visit of the ‘Big Apple’ accompanied by his future wife, Angela.
The couple landed at Teterboro Airport in New Jersey on Monday and from then it has been full-on for Garcia.
He has visited the New York Stock Exchange done TV segments for CNBC, Fox Business and Bloomberg and also climbed the Empire State Building.
Yesterday, Garcia’s day began with appearances of the NBC Today Show, the Golf Channel’s Morning Drive, “Mike & Mike” on ESPN (via phone), “CBS This Morning”, “Live with Kelly” on ABC, WABC-TV interview, “Dan Patrick Show” on NBC Sports Network (phone), Bloomberg and “SportsCenter” on ESPN.
After a lunch break it was visits to the Wall Street Journal, “Access Hollywood”, Sirius PGA Tour Radio and finally at 2pm back to the Teterboro Airport.
Garcia indicated also he will not return to competition to the May 11th starting Players Championship at Ponte Vedre in Flordia.
Garcia won the event two years ago and also in a play-off.
“It should be great fun going back to the players and being introduced as the Masters Champion,” he said.
“But like I said on Sunday when I won at Augusta, we are not done yet.
“It has been an amazing year so far but I still want to keep getting better. I feel I can get better. I feel also I want to work hard on it”.
