Even if it wasn't a monster, '08 was great for Sergio

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Sergio Garcia enjoyed the finest season of his career in 2008... but it was still without a coveted major championship win.

What will you remember about the 2008 season? That was the simple question we asked PGATOUR.COM staffers and freelance contributors, who responded with a series of short essays that we will post during November (click here for the archive link).

A playoff victory in THE PLAYERS Championship was just the springboard Sergio Garcia needed to construct a career year that he had been waiting for, one that his peers and so many of the game's aficionados had been expecting.

After winning his first TOUR triumph in three years -- this one in golf's fifth major -- Garcia appeared poised to fulfill his immense potential. He didn't disappoint. He added his first major title at the PGA Championship at Oakland Hills Country Club, and then he won two of four events in the PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup to capture the second edition of the season-long competition.

It was a monster year.

MORE MEMORIES

Auclair: Williamson's Open
Awtrey: Johnson-mania
Smithson: Goydos' one bad shot
Spoor: Emotions at Valhalla
Wacker: Tiger's amazing will
2008 Year in Review archive
Staff essay archive

SERGIO VIDEO

Video: His PLAYERS win
Video: Outside The Ropes

Uh, wait. Let's hit rewind.

For a few years now, Garcia has lamented what could have been. Golf gods, unseen demons and, lately, Padraig Harrington have conspired against his talents that are unquestionably considerable and, yet, to a large degree, still untapped.

The monster year, of course, never did materialize in 2008. Instead, Garcia had to contend with another assorted assembly of gremlins that undermined some of the best golf El Nino has put on display since he turned professional in 1999.

Garcia burst on the scene that year by finishing as low amateur at the Masters, but he became an instant star and gallery darling by pushing Tiger Woods to the limit at the PGA Championship at Medinah Country Club. The instant assessment of his inspired play that day was that El Nino was destined for greatness and would soon start racking up major titles.

Perhaps the read should have been that he would encounter much heartache, finishing as the runner-up in five big events just in the last two seasons.

Consider the last part of 2008. He tied for second at Oakland Hills behind Harrington, who also outlasted him at the 2007 British Open. Then Garcia had to absorb playoff setbacks at The Barclays and THE TOUR Championship presented by Coca Cola.

There is no arguing that Garcia played splendid golf. Winning THE PLAYERS in extra holes against Paul Goydos was his most opulent triumph to date. By the end of the Playoffs, he had risen to fifth in the Official World Golf Ranking; he's now second behind Tiger Woods after winning the European Tour's season-opening HSBC Champions event.

With a career-best 69.12 average, Garcia also claims his first Byron Nelson Award for lowest stroke average on the TOUR. That's a stat you can bank on.

But he's already overdrawn on the luck and timing accounts.

Sergio Garcia is a marvelous talent who can't seem to catch a break. His only drawback is he's inclined to tell that to anyone who will listen. He'll grow out of that, and he still has time to grow into his game and take it to new heights.

That monster year is coming.

He just has to watch out for the gremlins. Because you know they are out there.

Dave Shedloski, a Senior Correspondent for PGATOUR.COM, is always looking out for gremlins ... especially when lining up an 12-footer for birdie.