As a fan of golf, I would have to think that over all of Sergio Garcia's years as a touring professional, he has done some things to hurt his image, and to lose support from the fans and media. Nevertheless, Sergio has still gotten wide spread support from the fans and media, and maybe it is sympathy because he's just that little hot headed kid from Spain, he doesn't know better.
Being born in 1997 I do not really remember Sergio's charge at the 1999 PGA Championship, when the 19 year old kid from Spain, who could do it all, almost triumphed over Tiger Woods. But I do love watching the replay of it almost every year on The Golf Channel. You want to know why? Because growing up Sergio was one of my idols. I was not a big Tiger fan, I was one of those kids who didn't hop on band wagons mostly because everyone else was. So I turned to Sergio. Believe it or not, there aren't a lot of people who are both a Tiger fan and a Sergio fan. Tiger does have way more fans, but both of them are in that current stage of trying to get forgiveness from the fans and media and regain their fans. Tiger with his whole scandal, and marriage flaws. And Sergio with his Tiger issues, and racist jokes. I don't think Sergio is racist, I think he just has some issues with Tiger and was very childish about how he acted, it doesn't make him a bad person. So for all of those people who have been hating on Sergio since he made the joke about Tiger, and for his and Tiger's issues at The Players, it's time to move on.
Garcia has found his form of late, and this does help his image because people will become fans of Sergio when he can back up his talk. Sergio has one two of his last three events. He won the Thailand Golf Championship late in 2013, and he won this past weekend at the Qatar Masters. He defeated Mikko Ilonen in a three hole playoff to claim the victory in Qatar. These two recent wins have boosted Garcia to number nine in the world rankings. They have also given Garcia some hope that maybe this year is the year he gets that win at a major.
Sergio can hit it long, straight, with a cut or a draw, he is great with his irons, he has tremendous feel around the greens, and his putting is the best of his career. So what's stopping him from getting that win? The answer is, no one really knows. But with his game he can win at any of the four locations every year. So do not be surprised if Sergio wins multiple majors in the next couple years. Because with the confidence he is playing with, the old Sergio may have come back.
Sergio will have to deal with tough crowds and media the rest of his career, that is certain. When you flip-off a fan, make a fried chicken joke towards Tiger, and joke in more than five majors, it is hard to get every fan on your side. So Sergio will just have to not let the tough crowds get to him, and keep it all in perspective. He has been able to play a game his whole entire life, and never work a day. If Sergio can get his life in perspective, for the first time in his career, then I strongly believe that will take the pressure off, and allow him to win that first major, and many more.
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