Garcia to return to action at Players Championship

Commentator Peter Alliss caused a sexism row by referring to the short skirt worn by Sergio Garcia’s fiancée.

Spain’s Sergio Garcia captured his first major golf title on Sunday (Monday in Manila) after 73 failed attempts, making a birdie on the first playoff hole to defeat Justin Rose and win the 81st Masters. “I felt a calmness I never felt on a major Sunday”. The human being in me however, is happy for the guy.

With the famous green jacket firmly in his hands, Sergio Garcia finally felt the emotions of a major champion after he defeated Justin Rose in a playoff at the 2017 Masters. Again, Garcia and Rose hit great second shots with Garcia only a few inches closer, but both with makeable putts.

Both players shot 3-under-par 69s on Sunday before heading into the playoff.

The 37-year-old was wearing his green jacket, though it appeared a bit fit than the one he was presented with after becoming just the third Spaniard to win the Masters after his idols Seve Ballesteros (1980, 1983) and Jose Maria Olazabal (1994,1999). The accomplishment was made even more special with it being the 60th birthday of the late Seve Ballesteros, Garcia’s childhood hero. I’ve been through so much with him.

Rose, who also closed with a 69, graciously patted Garcia’s cheek before they embraced. “I will try to be second or third”, he said.

“Sergio often feels like he’s not supported the way he would like to be here in America”, said the vanquished Rose. “He deserves it, he’s had his fair share of heartache”, Rose told reporters.

A year later, Harrington rallied from three down to Garcia on the back nine and beat him at Oakland Hills in the PGA Championship. He dropped another shot on the par-4 11th when he drove his ball into the woods to the left of the fairway and couldn’t fashion a par. He reached the 18th green and stood over a 5-foot putt for the victory. I think I certainly hit a good putt in regulation. “I felt positive. I felt confident”.

Tennis star Rafael Nadal has been diminished by injuries, soccer players Iker Casillas and Xavi Hernandez are near the end, Pau Gasol is no longer a major force in the NBA, Alberto Contador has lost the title of Tour de France favorite, and Formula One driver Fernando Alonso looks downright miserable in his broken McLaren.

“Could I have made the putt on 17?”

A little luck is often required to win, and if Rose’s seven-foot birdie putt at the 72nd hole had toppled in instead of grazing the cup, the Englishman probably would be celebrating getting halfway to the career grand slam, after winning the 2013 U.S. Open. From there he managed to get up and down for par, while Rose missed his birdie putt.

“Most of the time, he would have, you know, caved in and let it go.

“It’s been an fantastic week”, Garcia said, “and I’m going to enjoy it for the rest of my life”. “We’ve always had a good friendship and a good camaraderie and good rivalry”. “I hope this is not the last”.