The Southeast Asia is one of the 22 regions in which the UN divides the world and is composed of eleven countries: Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, Philippines, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, East Timor and Vietnam. The Spanish golfer Sergio García has played professional tournaments in four of these countries and the balance is extraordinary. He is the absolute king of Southeast Asia.
He has competed in those parts on 17 occasions and his scorecard throws up the following records:
– 4 victories (in four different countries)
– 8 top 5
– 10 top 10
– 17 top 25 (all his performances). His worst result is a 24th.
It is simply extraordinary and it is worth remembering precisely today because this week he will play his 18th tournament in this area of the planet. Specifically, the LIV Golf in Singapore.
It is undeniable that Sergio has an intense and very special connection with this area. It all started in 2000, in his second year as a professional. He played the Johnnie Walker Classic in Thailand and finished in 19th place.
After this first test, there was a break. He did not return to Southeast Asia until ten years later, exactly to Thailand. He finished in 24th place. Since then, he would not stop visiting these countries every year until today, except for the years of the pandemic (2020 and 2021).
His first victory came in Malaysia, at the Iskandar Johor in 2012. Then, he was crowned in Thailand (2013), Vietnam (2015) and his last victory occurred, precisely, in Singapore (2018). Sergio finishes practically one out of every two times he steps on Southeast Asia among the top five, wins one out of every just over four visits and has never finished beyond the top 25. Galactic numbers.
The case of Singapore is especially positive for García. He has played there on four occasions, all of them also at the Serapong course at Sentosa, the same course that hosts the LIV Golf this week, and his balance is a victory, a second place, a seventh and an eleventh. He has always said that he feels especially comfortable on this course, that he likes it at first sight. There is no doubt.
So, it is inevitable to label him as a favourite before the tournament starts next Friday. Let’s not forget, moreover, that last year he was very close to achieving his first victory in the Saudi league there. He finished second after losing in the playoff against Talor Gooch. In a way, there is a thorn there.
He also likes the favourite label because he is having a very good season in LIV Golf. He has already played two playoffs (Mayakoba and Miami) in six tournaments played. However, he comes from not having his best performance in Australia, after finishing in 40th place.
All Sergio García’s results in Southeast Asia:
– 2000. Thailand. 19th.
– 2011. Thailand. 24th.
– 2012. Thailand. 4th.
– 2012. Malaysia. 1st.
– 2013. Thailand. 1st.
– 2013. Malaysia. 11th.
– 2014. Thailand. 9th.
– 2014. Malaysia. 4th.
– 2015. Thailand. 4th.
– 2015. Malaysia. 24th.
– 2015. Vietnam. 1st.
– 2016. Malaysia. 17th.
– 2017. Singapore. 11th.
– 2018. Singapore. 1st.
– 2019. Singapore. 7th.
– 2022. Thailand. 21st.
– 2023. Singapore. 2nd.
