Inspired by renowned compatriots, Sergio Garcia has finally won a major tournament.
The first extension hole sealed the green jacket of the Tournament of Masters for “El Nino”, reborn the coat of arms of a very distinguished sports generation in Spain.
The 37-year-old had bated painful near misses over more than two Decades of playing in major championships but he broke the sorcery with a sudden-death playoff victory over England’s Justin Rose at the 18th hole.
Prior to the tournament, Jose Maria Olazabal, champion in Augusta in 1994 and 1999, told Garcia, to remain calm and not to be affected by certain things, as happened in the past. These words of wisdom have pushed him on the road to success, but Garcia also drew strength by thinking of the late Seve Ballesteros, Spanish golf legend.
All this helped him to stay focused while in the past, less confident, he could have let himself be sidetracked. Garcia doubled behind Justin Rose before being crowned at the additional hole.
In 1980, Ballesteros became the first European to win the Masters Tournament. He definitely left his mark in golf, even more with regard to Garcia.
It would have been the birthday of Severiano Ballesteros, Garcia’s Countryman and mentor, and the two-time Augusta winner would have been so impressed with his persistence and application.
“It came to my mind a few times, there’s no doubt about it,. And I’m sure he helped me a bit on some shots, some rolled up,” Garci said. “It’s fabulous to win the tournament that day and join him and Olazabal, my two idols in golf,” Garcia added.
This triumph also has broken off from the front page of the Spain sports daily, especially Marca and El Mundo. “In the final battle, he overcame all of his generation. Rose, the Olympic champion who provided most resistance, but Also AdamScott and Rickie Fowler. All the men he dominated when he was young and who passed him through the century.” Marca wrote.
“With the flight of the ball more unpredictable than ever, García Remained firm from tee to green, his best asset on a golf course. That was not new for him, but where he really made a jump in quality was with the putter, infallible throughout the tournament.” El Mundo wrote.
Sergio Garcia congrulated by his rivals in the Matsres 2017. (Source:www.sbnation.com)
Garcia’s victory comes in a hollow of wave for the Spanish sport. The tennis player Rafael Nadal was slowed by injuries; Footballers Iker Casillas and Xavi Hernandez approach retirement; Pau Gasol became more discreet in the NBA; Alberto Contador is no longer seen as a favorite of the Tour de France and Fernando Alonso galley in F1, with his McLaren.
