Sergio Garcia returns to Augusta. And he does so as always, with that special bond that ties him to the Masters, where he achieved a historic victory in 2017 joining Seve Ballesteros and José María Olazabal. But this time he comes with a tone untypical for him. No grand proclamations. No lofty ambitions. Quite the opposite
The Castellón native lands at the Augusta National with very muted expectations, almost in survival mode. “Let’s see if I can make the cut. That would already be a very good week,” he admits without beating around the bush. A sentence that says it all. And it’s not a matter of caution. It’s a matter of feel. And right now the feel isn’t good
“If I knew how to fix it, I would have fixed it already. It’s simple. We’re trying to see if we can find something”
“I’m not very happy at the moment… I don’t feel amazing”, he admits. “I’m just not striking the ball well”. No excuses, no hedging. Sergio is direct, even blunt in his analysis. “If I knew how to fix it, I would have fixed it already. It’s simple. We’re trying to see if we can find something”
The Masters has always been an emotional refuge for the captain of the Fireballs de LIV Golf. The setting for some of the best moments of his career, crowned by that victory that broke years of frustration and propelled him to the pinnacle of world golf. But not even Augusta seems enough this time to change his mood
“Obviously there are good moments and bad ones. Fortunately, there are some really good moments here”, he explains. And he reaches for memory: “The shot on 15, on 17 on Sunday… and the winning putt”. Memories that are still there, but now serve more as emotional support than as a real competitive spur because, at least at first glance, he doesn’t see himself in a position to fight for his second Green Jacket
Because the reality is different. An uneven season, with too many ups and downs. “There have been some weak weeks, with an occasional good round, but overall the feel throughout the year hasn’t been very good”, he admits. “Apart from maybe the first two weeks… it is what it is”, he insists. And Augusta, precisely, is not the best place to hide weaknesses
“If you don’t drive the ball well it’s almost impossible to do anything here”, he explains. The course has changed, it has hardened, it demands more than ever from the tee. “You’re hitting much longer clubs to the green… and that’s always difficult”. Even so, Augusta is still Augusta. And Sergio, Sergio. The course still gives him the same as always. “It’s very good, as always. There’s always a little surprise, some new detail…”, he says. And he also hopes the conditions will help: “It will be nice to play it firm and fast, as it’s supposed to be”
There might be a small crack there. A tougher, more classic scenario where control and experience weigh more than current form. But even that doesn’t change the initial approach. This time there’s no candidate’s speech. There are no ambitious objectives. There’s work, doubts… and a very clear and very earthly goal. Make the cut. And from there, we’ll see. Because if there’s one thing Sergio Garcia has shown throughout his career it’s that Augusta can never be written off completely. Not even when he himself lowers expectations
Olazábal, to enjoy the week
Jose María Olazabal returned to Augusta with his emotions close to the surface and an inevitable look towards the passing of time. “It’s a very special place for me, I have wonderful, precious memories… and when you’re aware that there’s less and less time, you try to make the most of it”, confessed the two-time champion, who approaches another appearance more as a privilege than as a competitive obligation. His aim, of course: to enjoy the experience “as much as possible”, albeit, as he himself qualifies, “in quotes”
On the sporting side, the man from Gipuzkoa does not hide the difficulties. His short game remains his great ally —”at an extraordinary level”— but he admits significant problems with his irons: “I’m very erratic and that’s an important handicap”. Olazabal accepts that at Augusta that is punished: “No matter how good the hands are, this course will catch you sooner or later if you keep missing greens”. Even so, he remains in the fight, seeking feel up to Thursday to be able to compete… and, above all, enjoy a little more
