SAN DIEGO – If there’s one player who should win this week whose name is not Tiger or Phil, it’s Sergio Garcia.
It’s time for Garcia to win a major. His talent and success (seven PGA Tour wins) dictate that as do a couple of near-misses in majors, including last year’s British Open at Carnoustie.
Asked about being tagged the “best player never to win a major,” Garcia said, “I’ve tried to take a positive out of it. Like anybody else, my goal is also to win tournaments, win majors, try to become the best player I can become. There are other players out there that are in a similar position to me, like Adam Scott and some of the other guys, but we’re all trying to achieve that, so it’s a work-in-progress.”
Garcia, who won The Players Championship in May, should be one of the favorites this week because he might be the best ball striker in the field. If his sometimes balky putting doesn’t creep into the equation, then he could be hoisting the trophy Sunday.
“I’ve always told myself the same thing at the majors – I try to ask myself to play well, to give myself chances and try to win as many as possible,” Garcia said. “I’ve had my chances so that’s one goal accomplished. Now we have to try to get it to the next level and hopefully start winning majors.”
*
Gary Wolstenholme, a 48-year-old career amateur from England, made the field yesterday when Sean O’Hair withdrew from the tournament with a pulled chest muscle.