Sergio Garcia and his team, Fireballs GC, played a part in making Sunday, July 14, 2024, a memorable date in Spanish sporting history, and one that will be mentioned frequently over time, in the wake of their victory at LIV Golf Andalucia.
Hours after Carlos Alcarez scripted a piece of history by decimating Novak Djokovic’s dreams of a record-equalling eighth Wimbledon men’s singles title, Garcia and his men set the tone at LIV Andalucia for a final Iberian high at the Euro 2024 in Berlin.
It was LIV Golf’s first visit to Spain this season, but the script could have been quite different as the Real Club Valderrama was set to embrace an Indian winner in Anirban Lahiri.
Going into Sunday with a four-shot lead, Lahiri has been known to close out weeks from similar positions, and hence the hope that an end to the nine-year title drought was close.
Strange as golf can be, Lahiri floundered and could only smile as the short putt for par and the win went past the cup. The error was a sum-up of the day, and proved costly as setting up a playoff with a hardened pro like Garcia was never going to be easy.
With the day’s best card of five-under par, Garcia was the man in form, and one with a point to prove. Into his season’s third playoff, the Spaniard had a chance to rectify a dismal record in playoffs at LIV Singapore 2023, and Mayakoba and Miami in 2024. The losses had hurt the fierce competitor in Garcia, and there could not have been a better setting to rectify the past than on a turf that had witnessed Garcia’s exploits many times in his prime.
Garcia was on revered ground, and it was imperative to maintain his high standards here. The legacy of Seve Ballesteros, the support of the home crowd, the whispering trees and winding fairways stood witness as he lifted the trophy.
“To be totally honest, there’s a connection between Valderrama and myself that I can’t even explain it,” said Garcia on winning his 37th professional title.
The Fireballs made their captain’s win sweeter by beating Crushers GC in what was the first double playoff in LIV Golf’s brief history. As the Fireballs won, the supporters erupted in unison.
“I knew I was playing well,” said Garcia. “I love this place. I love these people. So thankful to everyone for what we were able to achieve.”
Asked if the supporters were the 15th club in his bag, he replied, “Without a doubt. 15th, 16th, and 17th. It was unbelievable the whole week. To have my kids here and my wife and my parents and everything, it’s a dream come true,” he said.
Sergio Garcia pocketed a hefty USD 4 million for his solo triumph, and the Fireballs shared the USD 3 million payout for the team win at LIV Golf Andalucia 2024.
Summing up the 24 hours in Spanish sport, Garcia wrote on Instagram, “Today (July 14), in my opinion, is one of the best days in the history of Spanish sport.”
“Without doubt,” Garcia responded when asked if LIV Andalucia ranked among his greatest victories. “Alcaraz won; hopefully Spain win too, and would be unbelievable,” he said.
The wish came true to further sweeten a day that was reminiscent of his days of supremacy on the DP World Tour.
With three wins at Valderrama (2011 Andalucia Masters and 2017, 2018 Andalucia Valderrama Masters) his record here is almost unmatched, and July 14 added one more chapter to his invincibility in Spain. Out of Garcia’s 16 wins on the DP World Tour, seven have come in his homeland.
Not to be mistaken for a home tiger, Garcia has cornered glory across the globe, and his 11 wins on the PGA Tour stand out in a career that evokes admiration.
To understand how Garcia reached a career high World No 2 and spent more than 450 weeks as one of the top-10 best golfers, we roll back the clock with some of his standout moments.
Two years after Tiger Woods‘ spectacular victory at the 1997 Masters, Garcia burst on to the scene as the next big teenage talent in golf.
Soon after turning pro on the European Tour (now the DP World Tour), the 19-year-old grabbed attention with his T25 at the Spanish Open (Acciona Open de Espana) in April 1999.
Garcia destroyed records and broke boundaries as Europe became aware of a player capable of rivalling Woods’ might.
The early record pointed to Garcia’s tremendous potential since age 12, as he went on to post 21 amateur wins.
Prior to committing to pro golf, Garcia, 17, made 12 cuts in 18 pro events, including the win at the 1997 Catalan Open.
For Spanish golf lovers, the spring of 1999 was time for jubilation as Garcia became the only amateur to qualify for the Masters, and his legendary mentor Jose Maria Olazabal won the Green Jacket at the Augusta National.
Before long, comparisons started to be drawn with Olazabal, and Garcia prove he was worthy of the assessment. In his sixth pro start in July 1999, Garcia became the fourth-youngest to win on the European Tour at 19 years and 176 days at the Irish Open.
Woods won the 1999 PGA Championship by a shot, but it was Garcia who grabbed the eyeballs. Amid predictions that this was the start of a long rivalry between the two, Garcia did his bit to lend credence to the talk. His iconic shot from behind a tree, where he closed his eyes and found the green, became a symbol of his talent, audacity and youthful exuberance.
Garcia’s breakthrough moment on the PGA Tour was the MasterCard Colonial in 2001. History was made as in the process he became the youngest champion since Woods in 1996.
Garcia had arrived on the PGA Tour, and by the time of the 2002 Masters, he had more wins in the bag. During the practice round at Augusta, Garcia became one of the few players in history to make an albatross or double eagle on the par-5 second hole.
Continuing the winning spree along the way, Garcia logged one more distinction by becoming the first Spaniard to win the Players Championship. It was the 2008 edition, and Garcia faced off with Paul Goydos in a playoff at TPC Sawgrass.
The focal point was the legendary island green of the 17th hole. Unable to handle the strong gusts, Gaydos left the door open for Garcia, who made par to earn the greatest win of his career at that point.
His ball-striking ability in stormy conditions had established him as a formidable force.
With the win at the 2016 AT&T Byron Nelson, defeating Brooks Koepka in the playoff, Garcia equaled Ballesteros for the most career wins.
His career had its share of close calls and top-10s in big tournaments, and it took years to get rid of the “best golfer without a Major” tag.
That changed at the 2017 Masters. It was life-changing for Garcia as the Augusta National witnessed something magical. Garcia donned the coveted Green Jacket after a playoff with Justin Rose. The intense chase for a Major championship had ended, and the roars at Amen Corner are still remembered.
Sergio Garcia made his Ryder Cup debut in 1999 at 19 years and 258 days, making him the youngest competitor in history, a record that remains intact to this day.
Garcia’s legacy is engrained in European golf history. As Team Europe’s pulse, his enthusiastic celebrations, fist pumps and unshakable dedication made him a fan favorite. Not to mention his record, which demonstrates his love for team golf and competitive spirit.
In 10 appearances, Garcia is the most prolific player in Ryder Cup history, and his 28.5 points stand unmatched.
Garcia’s earnings have kept pace with his exponential growth on the golf course.
With career earnings of USD 54,985,969 on the PGA Tour, and EUR 30,100,249.25 (USD 32,787,854.93) on the DP World Tour, Forbes ranked Garcia 46th on the list of the richest athletes in 2023.
As per Spotrac, his earnings on LIV Golf stand at USD 26,489,261.
With sponsors like Omega, UBS, Goodr and Stuburt in his portfolio, Sergio Garcia’s net worth is reported to be in excess of USD 70 million.
(Main and featured images: Sergio Garcia/ Instagram)
LIV Golf Andalucia was played at the Real Club Valderrama in Sotogrande, Spain.
Sergio Garcia won his first individual LIV title by defeating overnight leader Anirban Lahiri in a playoff.
A USD 25 million purse, including USD 4 million for the winner, was up for grabs at LIV Andalucia.
Garcia's Fireballs GC won the team title after winning a playoff against Crushers GC.
Robin Bose has covered multi-discipline sport for prominent publications in India like The Statesman and Outlook before being bitten by the golf bug in 2008. He specialised in the sport and covered it ..Read More
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