Garcia has sights on first major  PGATOUR.com Contributor PACIFIC PALISADES, Calif. -- You know the drill. For better or worse, so does Sergio Garcia. Every interview inevitably leads to the same question, if in different phrasing. When will he win a major championship?  Sergio Garcia is still looking for that elusive major championship win. (Grayson/WireImage)
Is Garcia, who ranks 13th in the world, the current rendition of "best player never to win a major?'' Could be, although of the 12 golfers above him, five -- Adam Scott, Luke Donald, Henrik Stenson, Padraig Harrington and Trevor Immelman -- similarly are majorless. Yet, Garcia, in our consciousness since that run up the 16th fairway and that figurative run up against Tiger Woods in the 1999 PGA Championship at Medinah, where he finished second by a stoke, is the one who gets the label and our attention. Maybe because of his delightful personality. Maybe because of his remarkable success as a member of the European Ryder Cup Team. Back on the PGA TOUR for the first time this young season, after three events in the Middle East -- Abu Dhabi, Qatar and Dubai, Garcia on Friday shot his second consecutive sub-70 round at historic Riviera Country Club, a 2-under par 69. With the 68 on Thursday, Garcia's at 7-under 135 and very much a contender, chasing Harrington, Phil Mickelson and Charles Howell. But after the usual innocuous conversation, such as how he felt -- "Not too bad,'' was the response -- Garcia was asked what he's always going to be asked until he provides the reason for it not to be asked. "Do you feel this is could be your year to win one . . . or two?'' was the question, alluding to the majors. "I hope so,'' was about the only thing he could say. "I'd love to. It feels good to get momentum on your side. It's good to get confidence. I can keep doing that.'' What he does keep doing is playing well. In the PGA at Medinah, seven years ago, second to Woods. Last year, a tie for third, behind Woods and Shaun Micheel. Through the years he has a third and a fourth in the U.S. Open, a fourth and an eighth in the Masters and in '05 and '06 consecutive fifths in the British Open. So isn't as if he hasn't made his presence felt. Which could be the problem. He's always there -- 11 times among the top 10 in a major, but at the same time, he's not there, meaning first. The kid's only 27. Tom Kite didn't win his major, the U.S. Open, until age 42. They say the requirement to be a champion, besides a swing and determination, is patience. Maybe we, the audience, ought to be to the ones who have patience. "You have to realize there are a lot of guys here who can play,'' Garcia reminded us. "It's the way it is.'' And a reason Garcia didn't win in 2006, on either the PGA TOUR of the European Tour, after winning on both sides of the Atlantic in 2005. Of course, his brilliance in helping the Euros grab another Ryder Cup can be called a victory, if not an individual one. On Friday, Garcia had a poor round statistically, ranking 93rd in fairways hit and 75th in putting. Still he was under-par, and one journalist, to Garcia's face, described him as "a Spanish Houdini,'' for the way he escaped difficulty. "No,'' countered Garcia, "I don't think so. I had a couple of bad breaks early on, a horrendous break on six and bad break on 13. But I managed to make two birdies toward the end of play. "I would loved to have shot a little lower, but I did a little bit of what I had to do to put myself in position and I hope have a solid weekend. We'll see what happens.'' That's always the ultimate observation in golf. We always have to see what happens. The game is one of skill and fortune, of doing what is necessary and hoping that is enough. So far, it hasn't been enough for Garcia in the majors, but his time will come. He just needs to putt a little better. To be in the right place at the right time. Then the question will be asked of someone else. As Garcia said, it's the way it is. Copyright 2007 PGATOUR.com. All rights reserved. |
PGATOUR.com is part of the Turner Sports and Entertainment Digital Network