It's good to be Sergio

By Bob Verdi
Photo By James Rexroad March 2007

After another Ryder Cup victory but still missing a major, Garcia is enjoying life and its challenges

There are pictures of Sergio Garcia everywhere at Club de Campo del Mediterráneo in Borriol, Spain, the course where he learned how to play golf. On a wall near the dining room, there is a snapshot of Garcia when he really was El Niño: "Campeón de España, Infantil Absoluto, 1992." Not far from there, he's smiling with another trophy: "Campeón de Europa, Amater Absoluto, Sergio Garcia Fernández, 1995." (Fernández is mother Consuelo's maiden name.) Near the reception desk, there are medallions from Sergio's numerous worldwide victories.

But best of all for members, Sergio himself is there, back to his roots as usual for the holiday season after a year of globe-trotting. He blends in because, as he says, "I've been here since I was a baby. I'm not treated like I'm special. I am not special." At age 27, however, Sergio is a world-class player, albeit one who endured a winless 2006. But he doesn't seem vexed, especially when he recounts another Ryder Cup rout of the United States during which Garcia was Europe's engine.

He has not claimed a major championship yet, but in an extensive interview, Garcia leaves no doubt that the Ryder Cup means as much to him as any individual honor. He talks about his warm emotions, his occasionally chilly putter, his pursuit of Tiger Woods, and relationships with fellow players, a few of whom aren't enamored of his animated style.

"I am what I am," Garcia says. "I love golf, I love my life, I love my family and friends." He also reveals that, a few years ago, he contemplated giving up golf, but only briefly.

"It's a crazy game I picked," he says. "But a beautiful game."

Golf Digest: Well, you and your fellow Europeans staged another Ryder Cup blowout last September. Have you come down from the clouds yet?

Sergio Garcia: It was great, wasn't it? At least for us. But it was very exhausting. We did a lot of celebrating after it was over, of course, even more than was on TV. I don't know how late everybody else went, but Morgan and I were done about 12:30 on the Sunday night, or Monday morning. Went to sleep.

That would be Morgan, as in Morgan-Leigh, Greg Norman's daughter.

Correct. We've been going out for a while.

Are you in love?

That's between Morgan and me.

You knew Elin Nordegren before she met Tiger. Did you ever go out with her?

I knew her through Jesper Parnevik, but we never went out, not on a date. We did go out for some drinks when I was dating a friend of hers, but when we went out, it was the three of us. That was like 2001.

Several girlfriends ago?

Well, I was young then.

Is Morgan-Leigh the one?

Does that mean what I think it means? I will say she's the best I have felt being with so far. We met in Denver last year, at the International. She was with Greg. He organized a dinner at the house where they were staying, and she was cooking—she's a chef. We exchanged phone numbers, and here we are.

So, which eligible bachelor gets married first, you or Adam Scott?

Could be me. I heard he broke up with his girlfriend. Henrik Stenson got married. So did Justin Rose.

Of the players on tour, who do you get along with best?

Luke Donald. I'm friends with a lot of guys. Adam, Trevor Immelman, Chris DiMarco, Tim Clark, Davis Love, Ernie Els, Retief Goosen, Henrik. But the one I hang out with the most if we're both at a tournament is Luke. We enjoy each other's company. He's a little quieter than I am, but when we play together, he loosens up. When he passed me on the World Ranking, I got a text message from him: Hi, No. 9. This is No. 8.

Jose Maria Olazabal, of course, is great to be around. And Miguel Angel Jimenez, a very different guy. You have dinner with him, you'll have some laughs. I'll tell you another one: Retief. People don't think he has much to say, but if he trusts you ... funny.

Could you imagine yourself in a ponytail like Jimenez?

No. I'd like to have longer hair, but mine just doesn't grow. That's what happened with our little contest last year [with Scott and Clark]. We had a bet that we wouldn't cut our hair. Clean up the sides maybe, around the ears and sideburns, but not actually cut it. They both broke down the same day at the Players Championship. I think it was $100 each. They thought I cheated, but why would I cheat my friends over a thing like hair? Over anything.

Would you like to be closer to Tiger?

The level of my game, you mean?

Definitely. He's a great, great player who has done some amazing things. As far as personally? I don't need to be, no. I don't think it's necessary for all of us to be buddies. And not being good friends with someone doesn't mean you're enemies. Whether it's golf or writing, you have friends and then you have friends friends. Friends who are like family. I can count my close friends on two hands, which is good, I think. That's a lot. Some are at home in Spain, others are elsewhere, and some are in golf.

Tiger and Phil Mickelson don't appear to be dinner companions.

I don't think so. I think you can be rivals like they are and still be friends, but I don't think it's necessary.