Drop, hop and bop!
It’s great to see Sergio Garcia smiling and fist-pumping again. After nearly three years without a victory, the 31-year-old Spaniard notched his second consecutive win on the European Tour, clinching the Andalucia Masters by one shot over Miguel Angel Jimenez.
A week before, Sergio captured the Castello Masters at his home course by a dominating 11 strokes. I was a little tentative to make any strong declarations about him since it was held at the course he grew up playing — still, his margin of victory was impressive. But now, how can we not be optimistic about 2012 for him? His ballstriking has never really been questioned and he’s showing confidence in his short game in pressure situations. With Jimenez charging in the closing holes, Garcia made key up-and-downs on 16 and then 18 to hold him off.
“I’m out of words,” Garcia told EuropeanTour.com. “It’s been two amazing weeks. Miguel fought so hard and had some good chances coming in, 17 for eagle and 18 for birdie. I wasn’t as good as probably the last 13 days, but we hung on and managed to pull through.
“On 18, we decided to play a little more conservative and make sure we hit the fairway, then the chip was just amazing. I thought it was going in. I’ve been in that situation three or four times on this course. It wasn’t easy, but I believed in my ability. To be able to hit the chip I hit there and roll the putt in with the pressure, it was nice.”
Asked about his return to form after a long dry spell, Sergio said: “I knew that I had game, because I had it before, but obviously, when your head is not in the right spot it doesn’t matter how much game you have, your muscles won’t listen.
“I’m just happy with my year. We all know how difficult golf is. This is a working process, I’ll keep working on it, and trying hard and enjoying it.”
Looks like his love life is also back on track…
With this win, Garcia moved back into the top 20 in the world rankings from No. 31 to No. 18.
What do you expect — if anything — from Sergio in the upcoming season?
(AP Photo/Miguel Angel Morenatti)
European dominance, just a shame that most of the players on The US tour are too stuck in their ways and don’t play too many tournaments outside of the US. Hello there is a whole other golfing world out there outside of the PGA tour.
Sergio is so emotional…it’s incredible.
Cute girlfriend by his side –> Top 5 in the world
Messy breakup –> Ready to quit the game
Next girlfriend arrives (coincidentally also very cute) –> Sergio looks like a world beater again
If she’s still with him in April, he’s my pick for the Masters.
Sergio is definitely emotional, and he definitely wears his emotions on his short sleeves.
I actually think it’s refreshing when a player (such as Sergio) is honest about how his love life affects his game and how he has had serious doubts about his ability on the course. I can think of a certain other player who tries to avoid evincing any semblance of humanity…
A few things have to go his way on a Sunday, but a major victory next year isn’t long odds.
He’s 31, healthy, and not a social pariah. Eldrick would kill for that right now.
NICE WORK SERGIO! KEEP IT UP!!
I think Sergio has his ducks in a row now and look for further strong results. Nice going.
Will be my No. 1 choice in the 2012 fantasy draft. I can’t remember the last time Sergio holed so many clutch putts. The 11 shot win the previous week was quite a display also.
I’m telling you if Tiger starts to get some strange asses in some strange places, he’ll be waxing everyone again, just like what Sergio is doing right now.