The low rain clouds enveloping Carnoustie during the final playoff holes of the 2007 British Open Championship could well have been the setting for another masterpiece by Ernest Hemingway.
A disconsolate 27-year-old Spaniard, an extrovert by nature, stood slumped in the background as Padraig Harrington became the second Irishman to have his name engraved on "The Auld Claret Jug."
Sergio Garcia, the young man from Castellon probably wished the dark North Sea may help erase the pain in his heart, reconstituting the opening titles of the epic movie "For Whom the Bell Tolls."
The question on everyone's lips since that fateful day was "Will he ever recover from missing that easy putt on the 18th green?"
For a while, the creators of the obituary columns appeared to be correct as the Spaniard's form decreased, his scores increased and his putters were discarded daily.
The sun started to shine again on May 11 at TPC Sawgrass, the clubhouse and surroundings of this majestic Pete Dye course, echoed and re-echoed the sounds of flamenco music as the aura of the Iberian peninsula descended upon "The Sunshine State."
Sergio Garcia has often stated his dislike for the nickname bestowed upon him at the commencement of his career, however, it will be music to his ears when most of the golf world roars, "Welcome Back El Nino!"
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5 months ago
Nice Article Peter. I would have liked to see Goydos win as he was a guy that actually needed a win for the exemption and the money (at least needed the money in PGA Tour terms), but Sergio was the better player down the stretch. He played 1-under golf for the final 5 holes while Goydos was two-over for the final 5 holes.
When Garcia missed that short birdie putt on 16, I thought the old Sergio that we have come to know was starting to appear again but we went on and pared 17 and then confidently sunk his par putt from about 6 feet on 18.
The amazing thing about Sergio is that he is still not a great putter but he is just that good of a ball striker that he can perform.
5 months ago
I am inclined to agree with you Martin. It really is amazing how "The Yips" seem to strike all ages and once established, appear almost impossible to eradicate. My mentor, Fred Daly was infected in 1949 and they remained as his bogey until his death in 1990.
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