The Irish Golf Club Gazette: TheSergioGarcia

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4/18/2016

Dunne Finishes 16th at Valderrama

Paul Dunne - Getty Images

Paul Dunne fired four birdies in the final round of the Real Club Valderrama Open de España, Hosted by the Sergio Garcia Foundation only to end the day just one under par after a double bogey 6 on the final hole.

A top twenty finish though is the Greystones man’s best result since a ninth place at the JoBurg Open last January and a good build up for the China swing over the coming two weeks.

Dunne plays the Shenzen International next week and looks certain to secure a spot at the Volvo China Open in Beijing the following week given his current reserve position.

Peter Lawrie was close to also signing for under par round on Sunday until a few stray putts undid some of his good work at the San Roque course. A great recovery after a wayward drive on the 17th hit out of bounds showed a return of confidence that bodes well for the season. Any loss of momentum could be only due to Lawrie’s lack of events following his loss of European Toru playing rights and leaves him with an unwanted three week break until the Trophée Hassan II in Morocco next month.

However, in the first full four rounds of the year - having missed the cut at the Tshwane Open in February and withdrawn from the Alfred Dunhill Links before Christmas – Peter Lawrie should be satisfied with his weekends’ work. The Dubai Duty Free Irish Open at the K Club the next biggest event on the horizon.

As a former winner of the Open de Espana Lawrie was automatically exempt this weekend and his hard work during the close season was rewarded in the toughest and most demanding of conditions at Valderrama.

The weekend though belonged to Andrew Johnston who won his first European Tour title as he held off the challenge of Joost Luiten to claim the Real Club Valderrama Open de España, Hosted by the Sergio Garcia Foundation.

The Englishman came into the final day alongside Luiten at two over and signed for a one under par 70 to take the title by one shot and become the first man to win a European Tour event with an over par score since Justin Rose won the US Open at Merion in 2013.

It had been 20 years since a regular event had been won over par, Ian Woosnam shooting the same score to win the Scottish Open at Carnoustie in 1996, showing just how difficult a test Valderrama had been over the four days.

"I drove the ball well all week, chipped and putted well all week, I struggled a bit with my irons the first three days but I just kept going and kept digging in and then on the fourth I found something," he said.

"I came off the course and I just started crying with the emotion of it. It's just very surreal and I don't think it will hit me for a few days.

"You see them winning these tournaments, and the history of it and all these names, so to put mine on there feels pretty ridiculous, really. It really does.

"Hopefully I can be one of those guys who has an incredible career like that and people are sitting here in the future going, 'oh, Beef's on there'. It's pretty incredible."

Tournament host Sergio Garcia made six birdies in his round of 67 to finish at three over, a shot ahead of defending champion James Morrison and Søren Kjeldsen.

The win completes a long journey for 27-year-old Johnston, who first made it onto The European Tour via the Challenge Tour in 2012 before a loss of form and fitness saw him lose his card.

Two wins on the Challenge Tour in 2014 saw him win the Road to Oman and now, after finishing 70th on The Race to Dubai last season, he has his breakthrough.

For Dutchman Luiten, the result is the continuation of a brilliant start to the season and hands him his fifth top ten in eight events so far this term.

Johnston bogeyed the first as those around him jostled for position, with Martin Kaymer opening up a two-shot lead over the field with a birdie on the third.

Luiten and Kaymer continued to battle it out but when Johnston hit a sensational approach to the seventh for birdie and made another gain on the next, a dropped shot from the German on the seventh meant Johnston and Luiten shared the lead at the turn.

Morrison had also turned in 34 and bogeys on the 11th from Luiten and 14th from Johnston meant there was a three-way tie for the lead. That became a four-way tie when Garcia birdied the 16th and 17th to surge into contention.

A bogey on the last saw Garcia set the clubhouse target at three over but Johnston holed a 20-footer on the 16th to move ahead and Luiten could not reel him in as he finished with seven straight pars.

Kjeldsen's 68 handed the Dane a second straight top ten after his excellent performance at the Masters Tournament last week, while Morrison finished with a 72.

Ross Fisher, Kaymer, Mike Lorenzo-Vera and Alex Noren were then at five over, a shot clear of Craig Lee.

9/30/2014

Garcia Praises McGinley Captaincy

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Sergio Garcia intends to copy Paul McGinley's winning formula if he ever becomes Europe's Ryder Cup captain.

McGinley has received widespread praise for his methods after overseeing Europe's victory over the United States at Gleneagles.

The Irishman made much of his captaincy template in the build-up and during the event itself and Garcia, who scored 2.5 points in the 16.5-11.5 win for the hosts, believes it was a near-perfect blueprint.

The 34-year-old Spaniard said: "They say perfection doesn't exist, but if perfection doesn't exist then he has been as close as you can get to it.

"I think he has done a great job and I have learned a lot from him.

"Hopefully, one year, in the long-term future, I can bring some of his thoughts into my captaincy. It would be great, it was amazing."

Garcia felt the whole week at Gleneagles Hotel was a success from start to finish.

"We always have such amazing teams," he said. "The chemistry we have between us is just amazing.

"I just feel so honoured and proud to be part of it. I couldn't think of nicer teams to be around in the team room, not only the players but the captain and vice-captains, the wives, everybody."

Garcia has played under a number of captains and lost twice. The with Mark James in 1999 at The Country Club and then in 2008 when Nick Faldo was captain in Valhalla.

The winning occasions were when Sam Torrance was captain in 2002 at The Belfry; Bernhard Langer at Oakland in Hills in 2004 and Ian Woosnam at The K Club. He also played under his fellow countryman Jose Maria Olazabal n 2012.

In 2010 at The Celtic Manor Colin Montgomerie named the experienced Spaniard as a non plating Vice Captain.

9/27/2014

Clarke Supports Amigo Garcia

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Darren Clarke has jumped to the defence of Sergio Garcia after Sir Nick Faldo criticised the Spaniard for his efforts at the 2008 Ryder Cup.

Faldo, captain of the defeated European team six years ago at Valhalla, is commentating on the Golf Channel this week and described on Friday Garcia's performance had been "useless" and that he had a bad attitude.

The British six-times major winner later admitted his words had been harsh and was a throw-away comment but Clarke, along with European team-mates Graeme McDowell and Lee Westwood, were quick to defend Garcia's reputation.

Clarke, who has appeared in seven Ryder Cups – five times as a player and twice as a vice-captain, is a co-commentator for Sky Sports at Gleneagles, said: "I think is was a very harsh comment from Nick Faldo.

"When you go into a team room as captain or player it would be very difficult to find a more passionate person than Sergio Garcia. Like Ian Poulter, he lives and breathes for the Ryder Cup. He's a very proud man.

"We all have off days in the Ryder Cup. That's what happens and nobody plays great all the time. Maybe he did have a bad day but it was a harsh comment."

Garcia, paired with world No. 1 Rory McIlroy in the fourballs and foursomes, surged back on Friday afternoon from a defeat by Phil Mickelson and Keegan Bradley by helping to secure the last two holes and halve their encounter with Jimmy Walker and Ricky Fowler.

The 34-year-old Spanish world No. 3 remarkably found the green from the rough on the 18th to finish off with a final birdie blitz to steer the Europeans to an overnight 5-3 lead on day one.

When asked about Faldo's words on Friday night, Garcia seemed a little stunned and said: "That's unfortunate. I guess he doesn't feel European. That's the only thing I can think of. There's a lot of things I could say about Nick Faldo, but I'm not going to put myself down to his level."

Westwood also responded to Faldo's comments by adding: "Let's take the euphoria we have from today and just crush it."

McDowell stated that Westwood and Garcia were dropped controversially for the first time in their Ryder Cup careers in the defeat at Valhalla in 2008.

The Northern Irishman said: "You've got one of the best Ryder Cup pairings of all time being sat down on a Saturday afternoon of a Ryder Cup that we go on to lose. I'd say Sergio was fairly useless that afternoon, yeah. Because he wasn't able to play. So – I agree!"

9/26/2014

McDowell Hits Fourball at Faldo

Sergio García’s European team-mates sprang to his defence after the former Ryder Cup captain Nick Faldo criticised the Spaniard’s performance six years ago as “useless”.

While Faldo praised the 34-year-old’s overall contribution to the biennial contest he also claimed the player had a “bad attitude” in 2008 – Europe’s only defeat since 1999 – in scoring one point from four matches.

García, whose brilliant five-wood approach to the 18th green helped him and Rory McIlroy salvage a half from being two down with two to play against Jimmy Walker and Rickie Fowler, was reluctant to become embroiled in a row.

“Are you sure you didn’t misquote him? That’s unfortunate,” he said. “I guess he doesn’t feel European, that’s the only thing I can think of.

“You know, there’s a lot of things I could say about Nick Faldo but I’m not going to put myself down to his level.”

Some of the senior players alongside García in the press conference looked less than impressed. The upbeat mood of how Europe finished the day – with a 5-3 lead – had been brought down a notch by the issue.

“That’s a great question. OK. We’ll take the euphoria we all have from today and just crush it,” Lee Westwood, who with rookie Jamie Donaldson beat Jim Furyk and Matt Kuchar by two holes, said sarcastically.

But García’s team-mates were not prepared to leave him undefended and Graeme McDowell, in particular, felt it necessary to make a point about Faldo’s contribution to that Ryder Cup.

The then captain rested both García and Westwood on the Saturday after they had contributed a point from three matches on the previous day.

“I’ll make a comment on that,” said McDowell. “I’m a rookie playing the Ryder Cup in 2008 and you’ve got one of the best Ryder Cup pairings of all time being sat down on a Saturday morning of a Ryder Cup that we go on to lose.

“I’d say Sergio was fairly useless, yeah, because he wasn’t able to play.”

McIlroy, who asked to play with García and struggled through 36 holes with him on the opening day, put his arm around the Spaniard, and said: “You’re not useless.”

García responded by saying: “Thanks, Nick, I love you, too.”

The pair continued to talk off microphone as the press conference continued but neither looked happy.

8/04/2014

McIlroy Looking After Number One

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Rory McIlroy repeated the winning trick in Akron, Ogion, on Sunday, to capture the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational and return to world No 1 - holidng off Sergio Garcia for the second time in as many weeks.

McIlroy turned a three-shot deficit into a two-shot lead within the space of five holes at Firestone Country Club, before Garcia battled back to leave the pair tied heading into the back nine.

Garcia had played the same back nine in just 27 shots in his second round of 61, but it was McIlroy who came out on top two days later in a tense duel, the 25-year-old carding a closing 66 to finish 15 under par and claim his first World Golf Championship victory.

With Adam Scott finishing outside the top five, that meant McIlroy reclaimed the world No 1 spot he last held in March 2013, just in time for the final major of the year, next week's US PGA Championship at Valhalla.

After 16 birdies in the first three rounds Garcia could only manage one in a disappointing closing 71 to finish 13 under, meaning the 34-year-old has now won just three times after holding the 54-hole lead on 16 occasions.

"What I am really proud of this week is following on from the Open with a performance like this," McIlroy, only the second European winner of the title after Darren Clarke in 2003, told CBS. "I said straight after I did not want any let down, I wanted to keep going and performing until the end of the season.

"It's great to come to one of my favourite tournaments of the year and to perform like this I am pretty satisfied."

McIlroy pulled his opening drive into the rough but had a gap through the trees and hit a superb low pitch to three feet, while Garcia had to settle for a par by two-putting from long range.

Three-time major winner McIlroy then two-putted from long range on the par-five second for another birdie and also birdied the third to take over the lead as Garcia bogeyed, but that did not tell half the story of an amazing hole.

Garcia's errant drive into the crowd somehow knocked the diamond out of a female spectator's engagement ring and after giving her a signed ball, the Spaniard asked for her contact information after hitting his second shot over the green.

Thankfully, the precious stone was quickly recovered but Garcia was unable to get up and down to save par and McIlroy holed from eight feet for a third straight birdie.

When McIlroy also birdied the fifth from five feet it meant a five-shot swing had taken place in the space of five holes and gave the world number two a two-shot lead.

Garcia desperately needed something to go in his favour and it happened on the eighth, McIlroy driving into the rough and finding a greenside bunker with his approach, from where he failed to get up and down.

Garcia then got back on level terms with a birdie from 15 feet on the ninth, McIlroy missing from just six feet.

That meant the pair went into the back nine tied on 14 under par but it was McIlroy who edged back in front with a birdie on the 11th from eight feet, Garcia then missing from a few inches closer.

The decisive moment then came on the par-three 15th, where Garcia's tee-shot left of the green left him with a near-impossible pitch over a bunker and led to a bogey four.

That gave McIlroy a two-shot lead with three to play and when Garcia failed to convert a birdie chance from 10 feet on the 17th his chance had gone.

The big story earlier in the day had come when Tiger Woods was forced to withdraw with a back problem.

Woods hit a number of poor shots in the fourth round and, after missing the fairway with his tee shot on the ninth hole he grimaced and reached towards his back before being driven off the course in a cart.

The 38-year-old had back surgery on March 31 which ruled him out of action for three months and the latest problem must put his participation in next week’s US PGA Championship in doubt.

Low scoring had been the order of the day on the rain-softened course, five-time major winner Phil Mickelson charging through the field with an eight-under-par 62 which featured 10 birdies and two bogeys.

"I don't know what to say, it kind of came out of nowhere," Mickelson said after finishing five under for the tournament. "The first two rounds really threw me for a loop. I have been struggling getting my short irons close and today they were right on.

"I made a lot of birdies and it was nice. Today was a big day to give me a lot of confidence and momentum heading into the US PGA next week."

England's Lee Westwood had also found some welcome form after four consecutive missed cuts, the 41-year-old carding a flawless 63 that did not go unnoticed by watching Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley.

"If you look at the one pillar that has been consistent throughout the Ryder Cup success we have had since the 90s it has been Lee Westwood but you want to see Lee in form," said McGinley on Sky Sports 4, well aware that Westwood is outside the automatic qualifying places.

"He is not going to get in on his reputation alone. He needs some form, he knows that and it's good to see him playing well today."

8/03/2014

Firestone for Garcia and McIlroy

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Rory McIlroy will chase Sergio Garcia on Sunday in a role reversal from two weeks ago in LIverpool where the now Open champion was holding off the challenge from the man once knon as El Nino.

At Hoylake Garcia chased McIlroy all the way before eventually finishing joint second, recording his 19th top-10 finish in his 64th major championship.

But the Spaniard has the opportunity to put that near-miss behind him by claiming his first World Golf Championship title at Firestone Country Club on Sunday, despite suffering from a lengthy weather delay in Akron.

Tee times had been brought forward several hours due to forecast thunderstorms, but the final group had just finished the 15th hole when the threat of lightning forced players off the course.

Garcia held a five-shot lead over McIlroy and Marc Leishman at the time, but when play eventually resumed three hours and 15 minutes later, the 34-year-old struggled to recapture his rhythm and had to battle to par the final three holes.

In contrast, McIlroy missed a good birdie chance on the 16th but picked up shots on the 17th and 18th to card a third round of 66 and finish 11 under, three behind Garcia, who returned a 67.

"I came here this week talking about wanting to just keeping the momentum going and not really dwell on The Open too much and keep moving forward and I have done that really well this week," McIlroy said.

"I'm obviously really excited to give myself another chance to win a tournament tomorrow."

"I drove it great at the Open as well and have been driving it great all year and that's why my results have been pretty good. Driving is the foundation of my game and if it's good it seems like everything feeds down from there and I've never driven the ball better than I am right now."

Leishman and world number one Adam Scott were two and three shots behind McIlroy respectively, the Australian pair having finished joint fifth together in the Open.

"It's great to see all the guys continue their good play," McIlroy added. "Sergio was chasing me down at Liverpool, I'm going to try and chase him down this week and we'll see what happens. It's a great leaderboard with a lot of good names and hopefully it will be a good battle tomorrow."

Justin Rose had been Garcia's closest challenger when he recovered from just his second bogey of the week on the eighth with birdies on the ninth and 10th, but then three-putted the 13th from 20 feet and did the same on the next, amazingly missing from no more than 12 inches.

The former US Open champion parred the final four holes either side of the delay to card a round of 70 and join Scott and Keegan Bradley on eight under, six off the pace.

Garcia had started the day with a three-shot lead after a sensational second round of 61, the Spaniard equalling the course record thanks to a back nine of just 27 shots which featured eight birdies, seven of them in succession from the 12th.

He was soon back into his stride when play resumed on Saturday, picking up shots on the second, fourth and sixth to reach the turn in 32.

The 11th was the only hole Garcia failed to birdie on the back nine on Friday, but the world number five made amends with a superb approach to two feet to move to 15 under par.

That was briefly good enough for a six-shot lead when McIlroy, who had also gone out in 32, missed from similar length on the 11th and followed that with a bogey on the 12th after failing to get up and down from a greenside bunker.

However, Garcia then carded his first bogey since the 12th hole of his opening round when he pulled his approach left of the 14th green, the siren sounding to suspend play after the final group had completed the 15th.

Defending champion Tiger Woods had already struggled to a 72 to lie one over par for the tournament, further reducing his slim chances of qualifying for the FedEx Cup play-offs.

The 14-time major winner needs the equivalent of third-place finishes here and in next week's US PGA Championship to move from 215th in the standings into the top 125.

Woods carded one birdie, one bogey and a double bogey on the sixth, where television commentators apologised after the 38-year-old was heard to tell photographers to "Give me a little f****** space" as he walked out of the rough.

1/26/2014

Irish Open Champion Wins Qatar

Former Irish Open winner, Sergio Garcia, is hoping the Qatar Masters victory is an encouraging sign of good things to come this season.

The Ryder Cup stalwart picked up the 11th European Tour win of his career, and his 26th worldwide, by beating Finland's Mikko Ilonen at the third hole of a sudden-death playoff in Doha on Saturday.

Garcia is one of the finest golfers never to have won a major championship and his eye-catching performance in the Middle East will tempt a lot of punters to back him for the U.S. Masters at Augusta in April.

"I hope this is the start of an amazing year," he told the tournament's official website (www.qatar-masters.com) after lifting the grand Mother of Pearl Trophy.

"Last year I had a lot of close calls, starting here, so I'm very excited to be able to get my hands on this trophy - this beautiful and heavy trophy.

"It's great to set up my year a little bit, to win again on the European Tour," said Garcia who last triumphed on the circuit when he captured the Andalucia Masters title in October 2011.

It was the eighth straight year the 34-year-old had competed in Qatar and victory over Ilonen made amends for his near-miss 12 months earlier when he was edged out by Briton Chris Wood's last-hole eagle.

"I'm thrilled to finally be able to win here," said Garcia who ended the regulation 72 holes alongside the Finn on 16-under-par 272.

"I've been close several times so it feels great to finally get over the finish line and go home with the trophy.

"I've been coming here for eight straight years so the crowd are used to seeing me which is nice. That always makes you feel comfortable," added world number 11 Garcia who has racked up a total of seven top-10 finishes in Doha.

"The crowd really made me feel that and hopefully they felt the same way. It was an exciting finish and you could see the crowd also got excited," he said after edging past Ilonen at the 18th with his third birdie four at the playoff hole.

Ilonen, who was aiming for his fourth tour win, said he lost to the better man.

"I played good golf this week so I can't be too disappointed," said the 34-year-old Finn.

"I gave it my best shot but Sergio was a bit better this time. There's no shame in losing to a great player like him."

The final leg of the tour's three-week Desert Swing, which kicked off with Spaniard Pablo Larrazabal's victory in Abu Dhabi, will be at the Dubai Desert Classic that starts on Thursday.

Sergio Garcia won the Murphy's Irish Open at Druids Glen in 1999

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