The Masters set up for Sergio Garcia to sneak in the back door despite recent antics
Sergio Garcia was golf’s villain for years. He was the anti-Tiger Woods and people loved to hate him.
However, somewhere along the way he became likeable and then Garcia did the unthinkable by making fans love him.
Garcia won The Masters in 2017 by edging out Justin Rose in a playoff and for a short period of time following that he became golf’s darling. He went on a worldwide media tour wearing his green jacket which included stops at El Clasico between Real Madrid and Barcelona in Spain as well as showing up in England at Wimbledon front and centre for the TV cameras.
Shortly after, he married his long-time girlfriend Angela Akins and not long after that he had his first child Azalea who is of course named after the flower that is the floral trademark at Augusta on the par-5 13th hole.
Garcia then showed up at The Masters in 2018 as the reigning champ but ended up having a disastrous weekend by hitting five balls into the water on the 15th hole which earned him the distinction of the worst score ever on a hole at Augusta (13).
After that debacle, he went back to his old antics by tossing clubs around the course and then getting disqualified at the Saudi International for intentionally damaging several greens as well as having a temper tantrum in a bunker. That tirade was followed by several public apologies which seemed to have nullified the goodwill he had built up with his win at The Masters.
Sergio Garcia should’ve received a suspension following his antics in Saudi Arabia says @ZeeManGolf “My initial reaction was I think there is more going on here that we’re unaware of.” pic.twitter.com/1E7FBJ4RzL
— GOLF TALK CANADA (@GolfTalkCanada) February 12, 2019
Fast forward a few weeks later and Garcia is making headlines again for arguing with Matt Kuchar at the WGC Dell Match Play (just two weeks ago). Another public apology and here we are at The Master 2019.
Regardless of all the antics, Garcia has been playing some really good golf of late. He’s currently ranked No. 27 in the Official World Golf Rankings and has four Top 10 finishes already in 2019 (three on the PGA Tour and one on the European Tour).
Even though he has a green jacket hanging in his closet, Garcia is almost flying a little under the radar heading into Augusta which could allow him the opportunity for success with significantly less pressure on him than last year at this time.
Maybe this was all apart of his master plan? Maybe the Spaniard has lulled us into thinking he is cracking under pressure and then like Muhammad Ali off the ropes against George Foreman, he’ll come out of the tee box with a flurry at Augusta.
Perhaps this is all setting up perfect for Garcia to sneak in the back door and claim his second Masters title.
I just hope we’re talking about Garcia this week because of a late charge on Sunday instead of a club toss or some antics followed by another public apology.
