Prayers Up
Players 2022: Sergio Garcia had the most Sergio Garcia reaction ever to rinsing one on the 17th hole
PONTE VEDRA BEACH—It seems fair to say that no one has gone through the ups and downs of the 17th hole at TPC Sawgrass in their career quite like Sergio Garcia. Of course, when you've been around as long as he has, that's bound to happen.
That said, it does seem to be among the greatest love-hate relationships between player and hole in the history of golf, no exaggeration. Many of Garcia's Players Championships have gone to die at the treacherous par 3, but it's also the site of one of his greatest career triumphs, a playoff victory over Paul Goydos in 2008. He also made an ace at the hole in 2017. Like we said, highest of highs, lowest of lows.
Unfortunately, Monday at the rain-delayed 2022 Players was the latest low at the 17th for the Spaniard, and he couldn't have had a better reaction to it. After watching his ball land about 10 feet from the pin, he could only hope and pray it didn't spin all the way back into the water. That's exactly what it ended up doing, to which Garcia said "Every time. Story of my life."
Garcia is nothing if not honest. You couldn't script a better reaction. That is quite literally the story of his life at the par-3 17th at TPC Sawgrass. Though, judging by some of his past great moments there, the law of averages say he'll have something to smile about at 17 again someday. Maybe.