Sergio Garcia hoping European Open will change his luck
FROM THE EUROPEAN TOUR WEBSITE
Sergio Garcia is optimistic that his return to European soil for this week’s The European Open can help him rediscover his best form.
The 29 year old Spaniard was threatening to end Tiger Woods’ spell as World No 1 earlier in the year after victory at the HSBC Champions.
But while playing on the US PGA Tour his game has stalled somewhat and Paul Casey’s victory at last week’s BMW PGA Championship saw the Englishman overhaul his Ryder Cup colleague as top European in the World Rankings, with Casey up to third and Garcia now fourth.
Garcia has not had a top 10 finish since January and his last five tournaments in America have been particularly disappointing - 31st, 77th, 38th (at the Masters Tournament), a missed cut and 22nd in his defence of The Players Championship.
Sergio Garcia is optimistic that his return to European soil for this week’s The European Open can help him rediscover his best form.
The 29 year old Spaniard was threatening to end Tiger Woods’ spell as World No 1 earlier in the year after victory at the HSBC Champions.
But while playing on the US PGA Tour his game has stalled somewhat and Paul Casey’s victory at last week’s BMW PGA Championship saw the Englishman overhaul his Ryder Cup colleague as top European in the World Rankings, with Casey up to third and Garcia now fourth.
Garcia has not had a top 10 finish since January and his last five tournaments in America have been particularly disappointing - 31st, 77th, 38th (at the Masters Tournament), a missed cut and 22nd in his defence of The Players Championship.
But he returns to The London Golf Club, Ash in Kent full of belief that he can go one better than last year, when he was runner-up to Ross Fisher.
“It was a good tournament for me last year, unfortunately Ross played unbelievable,” said Garcia. “But no, it was good. It looks like the weather is going to get better from tomorrow onwards, which we are looking forward to, and then hopefully let's have another good week and see if we can go one better than last year.
“The course is playing different than it was playing last year, because it was dry all week. It was very good weather and the course was playing very, very firm. It was windy like it's been the last couple of days, but you were getting so much roll on the fairways, the course was playing totally different than it is this year.
“There's a couple of new tees and a couple of par-5s, too, so it's made a bit of a difference. I guess it just depends on how the week goes on. With better weather, probably towards the weekend, the course will get firmer again, and then it will play a little bit more like it was playing last year. But at the moment, it's obviously playing much longer.”
Garcia does not face an easy task stopping Fisher’s title defence, however.
The Englishman was in inspired form last week and his closing 64 - the best round of the week at Wentworth Club - almost saw him take the title, with only a late flourish by Casey denying him.
“It’s really nice to be back,” said the 28 year old Fisher.
“It was a good tournament for me last year, unfortunately Ross played unbelievable,” said Garcia. “But no, it was good. It looks like the weather is going to get better from tomorrow onwards, which we are looking forward to, and then hopefully let's have another good week and see if we can go one better than last year.
“The course is playing different than it was playing last year, because it was dry all week. It was very good weather and the course was playing very, very firm. It was windy like it's been the last couple of days, but you were getting so much roll on the fairways, the course was playing totally different than it is this year.
“There's a couple of new tees and a couple of par-5s, too, so it's made a bit of a difference. I guess it just depends on how the week goes on. With better weather, probably towards the weekend, the course will get firmer again, and then it will play a little bit more like it was playing last year. But at the moment, it's obviously playing much longer.”
Garcia does not face an easy task stopping Fisher’s title defence, however.
The Englishman was in inspired form last week and his closing 64 - the best round of the week at Wentworth Club - almost saw him take the title, with only a late flourish by Casey denying him.
“It’s really nice to be back,” said the 28 year old Fisher.
“Got great memories of this place last year. Just looking forward to obviously getting out there and playing and it's the second time I'll have experienced defending a title.
“So obviously thoroughly looking forward to that, and like you say, coming off a really good week last week at the BMW PGA. So my game is in good shape and I’m looking forward to this week.”
The European Open will be special for one player, no matter what the result. Shane Lowry makes his professional debut, and the Irishman will be hoping it is as astonishing as his maiden performance on The European Tour.
Then amateur Lowry stunned the golfing world with his play-off victory over Robert Rock on home soil at The 3 Irish Open two weeks ago, and admits that it has been a hectic couple of weeks since.
He said: “It's been madness over the last couple of weeks, I'm just starting to calm down now.
“I just can't wait to get out on the golf course to be honest, and it's a lot more peaceful out there. It's been great, it can't be a bad thing, all of the attention, so I've enjoyed it and hopefully there's a lot more to come.
“I know I made the right decision [turning professional], and everyone around me knows I made the right decision, so I'm happy enough.”
“So obviously thoroughly looking forward to that, and like you say, coming off a really good week last week at the BMW PGA. So my game is in good shape and I’m looking forward to this week.”
The European Open will be special for one player, no matter what the result. Shane Lowry makes his professional debut, and the Irishman will be hoping it is as astonishing as his maiden performance on The European Tour.
Then amateur Lowry stunned the golfing world with his play-off victory over Robert Rock on home soil at The 3 Irish Open two weeks ago, and admits that it has been a hectic couple of weeks since.
He said: “It's been madness over the last couple of weeks, I'm just starting to calm down now.
“I just can't wait to get out on the golf course to be honest, and it's a lot more peaceful out there. It's been great, it can't be a bad thing, all of the attention, so I've enjoyed it and hopefully there's a lot more to come.
“I know I made the right decision [turning professional], and everyone around me knows I made the right decision, so I'm happy enough.”
Another notable amateur will be making his pro debut in this event - Australian Scott Arnold who was No 1 in the R&A WAGR until he announced his decision.
SCOTSWATCH:
There are 16 Scots in the field and three of them - Andrew Oldcorn, Andrew Coltart and Alan McLean - will be first off the tee at 7.30am.
Richie Ramsay is not far behind them.
Other Scots are: Alastair Forsyth, Steven O'Hara, Colin Montgomerie, Chris Doak, Marc Warren, Gary Orr, Stephen Gallacher, Callum Macaulay, Paul Lawrie, David Drysdale, Jason McCreadie and Scott Drummond.
Labels: EUROPEAN TOUR
posted by Colin |
See story on its own page | Wednesday, May 27, 2009
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