Sergio Garcia proves he is the master

Padraig Harrington was not among the tribute payers as his great rival Sergio Garcia stunned the golfing world by winning the 2017 US Masters – a victory which saw Garcia claim his first major trophy.

Speaking to RTE 2FM, Dubliner and three times major’s winner, Padraig Harrington revealed that he believes that ‘everything comes easy’ to Garcia.

Harrington went on to hint that no love was lost between himself and Garcia following the 2007 Open.

“I gave him every out I possibly could at the 2007 Open,” said Harrington.

“I was as polite as I could, and as generous as I could be. But he was a very sore loser, and he continued to be a very sore loser. So clearly after that, we had a very sticky wicket I’d say.”

“I was delighted to see the emotion on the 18th green,” Harrington said.

“Anybody watching that has got to feel for him and see, maybe I’m a bit harsh in the fact that I look at it and say, ‘Well, everything comes easy to Sergio.’”

However, it was far from an easy route to glory for Garcia, and few would have predicted such an outcome on the tournament’s opening day.

 

The main question being asked in the run up to the 81st Masters at August National was what could stop Dustin Johnson from being fitted with the much sought after green jacket?

The answer was a trip down a set of stairs in his home which unfortunately forced the world number one to pull out of the competition.

30mph winds seemed to disrupt everyone’s game on the opening day, everyone except Charley Hoffman who slipped through the field into seven under par, four shots clear of the field – pre-tournament hopefuls Rory McIlroy and Jordan Spieth both finished the day on even and three over par respectively.

Day two spelled the beginning of the end for Charley Hoffman, the 40-year-old couldn’t reproduce his opening day heroics, although a second-round of seventy-five was enough to keep him at the top of the leader board after another windy day at Augusta.

The American shared top place alongside Sergio Garcia after an impressive sixty-nine. Fellow American, Rickie Fowler and the powerful Belgian, Thomas Pieters also had shares of the lead after two steady rounds.

Day three was a truly incredible day of golf, with the European duo of Sergio Garcia and Justin Rose finishing the day ahead of the chasing pack.

Rose, a former US open champion was in fine form and given his position he put pressure on the leaders with an excellent 67. Garcia, meanwhile, began the day in the leading group and despite struggling to set the course alight, a solid 70 seen him finish six under par for the tournament alongside Rose.

Saturday’s leaderboard made for exciting reading, with Charley Hoffman, Ryan Moore and Spieth just two shots behind, while Adam Scott, Charles Schwartzel and Thomas Pieters were all within serious contention as well. It was all set up for a grand finale.

A grand finale it was, as the final day was met with a sense of unknown excitement.

In Garcia and Rose, we witnessed two outstanding golfers matching each other stroke for stroke.

Many would have predicted that ultimately it would be Justin Rose who would be fitted with the green jacket after Garcia’s wayward drive on 13 left him scrambling for a par save and potentially three shots behind.

But, Garcia somehow managed to save par and he would go onto eagle 15 to share the lead once again at nine under par.

Coming down to the final hole, we continued to see why these two players were fighting for first place.

Two excellent drives were both followed by ideal approaches to 18, although rather surprisingly, neither held their putts and we were going to a playoff.

Both men marched back to the 18th tee, hoping to take the glory home at the second time of asking.

Justin Rose was up first, but he couldn’t match his previous drive and instead found the trees from which he could only pitch a cautious shot towards the green in hope that a par would be enough.

Garcia stood up next on the tee and split the fairway with a perfect drive which was then followed by yet another outstanding short iron to the green about eight foot above the hole.

Rose was unable to make par, meaning Garcia had two putts to win the masters – he only needed one.

As the ball dropped to the cup, the gallery of adoring fans stood up in jubilation. After more than eighteen years on tour as a professional, Sergio Garcia was finally a major champion.