TOP 20 IN THEIR 20s: No. 1  Editor's Note: Our "Top 20 in Their 20s" series has finally come to the moment you've all been waiting for: No. 1. PGATOUR.com counted down the top golfers on the PGA TOUR aged 20-29 over the past three weeks using 14 statistical categories, including TOUR wins, Official World Golf Ranking, percentage of time spent in the top 10 throughout their career and 2007 FedExCup performance to determine rankings. Without further ado, learn more about No. 1: Sergio Garcia.
In 1999, Sergio Garcia fired an opening-round 89 at Carnoustie Golf Links for the British Open. Just 19 years old at the time, the Spaniard who frequently wears his emotions on his sleeve walked off in tears with his mother.
This year, the Open Championship returned to Carnoustie, and it was a completely different story. Not only did Garcia make the cut (and keep his emotions in check), but he debuted a new belly putter that led to the now 27-year-old taking the early lead. "Well in '99, it was a little bit out of hand," Garcia said. "Also, we had quite bad weather, quite difficult playing conditions, so that didn't help the way the course was set up." Another major in 1999 got a little out of hand for the highly touted Spaniard, as Garcia was thrust into the spotlight that year when he turned pro after capturing 19 amateur victories in 28 starts and one professional win. Garcia, who still is a member of both the PGA TOUR and the European Tour, recovered from his poor showing at that tearful British Open to finish runner-up to Tiger Woods in dramatic fashion at the PGA Championship just weeks later. Carding 66 in the first round at Medinah Country Club gave Garcia the early lead and made him the youngest player to lead the event since the tournament went to stroke play format in 1958. By Sunday, he was trailing Woods by just two strokes with three holes to play. At the 16th hole, his tee shot landed behind a tree and rested up against a root. With his eyes closed and luck on his side, he hit a six iron and jubilantly jumped into the air as he watched his recovery shot land safely on the green. Garcia, billed as "El Nino" -- who would be Woods' fiery new opponent -- finished just one shot behind El Tigre. Garcia owns one of the most decorated international careers for a young golfer. Several of Garcia's career milestones have put him in the record books for his young age, starting with the club championship he won at age 12. Garcia's career took off soon after when he made the cut in his first European Tour event at age 14 to become the youngest player to do so. One year later, he became the youngest player to win the European Amateur, and, in 1999, he was named the youngest Ryder Cup team member. The winner of 10 international victories and six TOUR titles, Garcia has yet to win a major. But with 12 top-10s in major championships, one can't be far off. "[We're] just not good enough, I guess," García said about of the lack of twenty-somethings as major winners. "We have been giving it good shots, guys in their 20s, trying to win majors, and we've been really close. But it hasn't happened. Only one guy can win. I can't give you an exact reason why, but it's just one of those things." Just because he didn't capture a title in 2007 didn't mean his year was a bust. Garcia vaulted into the top 10 in the PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup and was runner-up at THE PLAYERS Championship and the British Open. Much of Garcia's success can be attributed to his father Victor, his golf instructor since he was just three years old. His father was a teaching pro at Garcia's home club, the Club de Golf de Meditteraneo. Victor Garcia was always experimenting with new golf devices, and it was his and Vijay Singh's suggestion that Garcia start using a belly putter. "He's always told me to be open-minded," Garcia said. "Don't close yourself down and realize that there are more options out there, whatever helps. At the end of the day, it's about scoring -- getting the ball in the hole, and it doesn't matter if you hole it with a putter or a broom or however you do it." |
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