The Maturation of Sergio Garcia

by Ryan Ballengee on Aug 25, 2008 1:07 PM EDT

Sergio Garcia appeared more gracious in defeat this week at the Barclays, compared to the PGA Championship.

He lost to Vijay Singh, one of his good friends on Tour, at Ridgewood. He lost to Paddy Harrington, with whom he shares an icy relationship, at the PGA Championship (and 2007 Open Championship, which started the whole thing).

It is startling to hear the kind words from Garcia about Singh and the lack of excuses from Sergio about lies or luck.

"What can you do?" Garcia asked rhetorically. "You can't take it the wrong way. I think the most important thing about it is that I keep putting myself in a good position, and unfortunately, somebody just seems to be able to come up with some spectacular playing when I'm out there on top.

"I feel like I played solid all week. I got a couple bad breaks here and there that maybe would have made the difference, and a couple good ones here and there, too. At the end of the day, I had a shot. That's what you ask yourself for, and Vijay came out with the goods, and you've just got to give hats off to him."

The problem with this is that Helen Ross thinks there is no real distinction between how he handled this runner-up and how he handled losing to Paddy.

Garcia had accepted the loss to Padraig Harrington at the PGA Championship two weeks ago with similar maturity. He's clearly focused more on his own abilities now than any percieved slights from the golf gods, and the man who won THE PLAYERS Championship earlier this year has finished runner-up in each of his last two starts.

I didn't see that. Did you?

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have to agree with her

Sergio never got mad at Harrington – in fact, this answer is almost identical to the one he gave after the PGA. He complimented Harrington on his clutch putting and shot making down the stretch.

Garcia seems to have smoothed out his cliche’s for the post round interviews. (and I mean that in a good way considering how he is badgered in those press conferences) At least there weren’t any of those mean ol’ flagsticks picking on him this week.

What I see missing is any kind of acknowledgement of those bad shots at crucial times. Ball in the water at 16 at the PGA – tee shot in the rough at 17 (second playoff hole), then going for too much from thick rough and not being able to turn the ball enough instead of playing a shot that wouldn’t go across the fairway into more potential trouble to leave himself a shot at an up and down for birdie with his third shot. Instead of playing a comfortable shot, he tries to play the hero and gets into more trouble. Clean up those shots and he wins a major this year, and possibly the Barclays.

I don’t know if the lack of acknowledgement is on purpose, or if he avoids that kind of answer because it sounds weak, or if the media doesn’t ask that specific question. (I didn’t hear the question at the PGA)

"this ball will fit in that fairway"

by courtgolf on Aug 25, 2008 2:54 PM EDT reply actions

At the PGA

Garcia was way too much like his Open Championship self. Said he had no luck and that Paddy did. He wasn’t AS brazen as Carnoustie, but still pretty nasty and lacking grace. This was certainly an improvement, though.

by Ryan Ballengee on Aug 25, 2008 4:12 PM EDT up reply actions

I see what you mean

I remember the “luck” line – but I passed it off since everybody who wins says that it takes a few good breaks here and there – if they go your way, you win, if the breaks go against you, you lose.

That PGA press conference was a non-stop attack on Sergio trying to get him to blow up or throw out some emotional reaction like the “flagsticks are against me” line. They asked the same question over and over and over until he just walked out. I didn’t blame him one bit.

"this ball will fit in that fairway"

by courtgolf on Aug 25, 2008 4:45 PM EDT up reply actions

True

The media loves digging in on Garcia and Monty. They do kind of ask for it, though.

by Ryan Ballengee on Aug 25, 2008 4:53 PM EDT up reply actions

they may have their jerk moments

and Monty may have the biggest set of rabbit ears in history – but do you really think it’s the media’s job to harrass a guy just so they can get something slimy to write or talk about. That’s how rags like the Inquirer do business.

"this ball will fit in that fairway"

by courtgolf on Aug 25, 2008 6:38 PM EDT up reply actions