Garcia plays The Barclays with a heavy heart

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Sergio Garcia is wearing a black ribbon on his hat this week out of respect of those who lost their lives in a Spanair plane crash on Wednesday, and for his godmother's brother who passed away on Monday.

PARAMUS, N.J. -- Sergio Garcia is wearing a black ribbon on the left side his cap this week for two reasons.

The first is in memory of the 153 people who died in Wednesday's plane crash in Madrid. The second, in honor of his godmother, Ana Portales, who lost her brother Monday.

"Something you never wish would have happened, happened in Madrid,'' said Garcia, who is from Castellon. "As a Spanish man, it's a sad week.''

Garcia said he is not aware of any friends or acquaintances who were on the flight.

"I just know what's happened,'' he said. "I don't know exactly who was in it. It doesn't matter, even if you don't know anybody, it's something that you don't want to happen.

"It's going to be very tough for the families and everybody around it. It doesn't matter, I wear it because I feel like I want to wear it and I should wear it for the families and all of the people that died.''

The country has begun a three-day mourning period for the victims of the worst plane crash in 25 years in the country. The Spanair MD-82, bound for the Canary Islands, crashed just after takeoff and only 19 people survived. Garcia said everyone is feeling the loss.

"Just the way it happened, too, it's something that's quite sad," he said.

Garcia was 2 over through eight holes Thursday, but brought it back to open with a 1-under 70 at The Barclays. He said the Ridgewood Country Club course is tough.

"If weather stays this way, this course isn't going to get any easier,'' he said. "If it doesn't rain, I'll be surprised if the winning score is better than 10 under.''

Garcia has spoken with close friend Rafael Nadal, who won Spain's first Olympic gold medal in tennis, but doesn't think he'll be coming over from New York to watch him since Nadal is ranked No. 1 going into next week's U.S. Open Tennis at Flushing Meadows.

"I don't think it would be easy for him to come over here,'' said Garcia, who does plan to spend a few days at the U.S. Open. "Everyone knows him.''

Plus, it seems, he might need a little more sleep. That flight back from Beijing left him a bit jet-lagged.

"I did talk to him the other day,'' Garcia grinned. "He went to see a musical and fell asleep."