I had a pretty great time watching the PGA Championship today. The afternoon was drizzly and gray, and ideal for being at home with my MacBook + TV, which is what I require to watch a major these days. I log onto Twitter once the players get to the back nine, and watch the action unfold with dozens of other golf fans, from all over the world. Today there were Sergio supporters from Spain AND a Padraig posse twittering by phone from a pub in Dublin. It got kind of crazy as the the two Euro golfers, Padraig Harrington and Sergio Garcia, vied for the lead.
In the end Padraig prevailed, with an impressive display of pressure putting, but not before Sergio showed his amazing skills AND his slightly mellowed demeanor. I'm sure he was crushed to have to keep the mantle of "Best Player Never to have won a Major" after coming so close to shedding it, but the truth is, he played well, and everyone was commenting that he seemed more mature...less emotional. He'll get rid of the "BPNWM" moniker eventually, it just wasn't quite his time yet. The thing is, whether you like him or not, Sergio Garcia is an ultra entertaining player to watch.
(Photo: Getty Images: Warren Little)
I have to admit that I didn't think this Major was going to be exciting, but today was pretty awesome. Sergio will have his day, soon! The European players are playing great golf lately and with the Ryder Cup coming up, our American team will have their hands full, that's for sure.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely. Well put. I kind of don't understand those that don't like Sergio. I don't claim to know him at all but in terms of watchability, he's up there. Always entertaining and I hope he'll win one soon.
ReplyDeletesergio did seem to possess new found maturity and putting skill - so if he doesn't let this painful loss crush his new found demeanor, he will shead "bpnthwm" very soon - he is just to good not to win a few majors.
ReplyDeletei must say though, i felt he could have been much more congratulatory towards harrington on the 18th green - he seemed very ungracious in that moment (quick handshake, almost no eye contact). two things came to my mind at that point:
1 - these guys are both ryder cup teammates and had just put on the absolute best competitive display of the year in a major - yet sergio's quick handshake and frown surprised me. padrig beat sergio by playing like an iron man - sergio should have acknowledged the effort more graciously. good sportsmanship at such moments reveals much about one's character. that leads me to my second point:
2. nicklus always was very gracious in defeat - i immediately though of his heartbreaking defeat at turnberry in 1977 to tom watson at the british open- "the duel in the sun" - instead of a quick handshake and "sour puss" (like sergio) jack gave watson a hearty handshake, spoke to him from the heart for a good 10 seconds (i would pay big money to know what he said) and then gave him additional hand pumps. pure class. something these modern boys- esp. sergio should emulate.
still a great sports moment, but for me slightly soured by el nino's pouting on the 18th green.
Yes, that "emotions on his sleeve" this is part of what makes Sergio... Sergio.
ReplyDeleteEveryone was talking about his new found maturity, and he's definitely grown up a lot, but there at the end the old Sergio resurfaced. And I don't think that's such a bad thing. Not gracious perhaps but human. And lots of people like that.
I don't know about anyone else, but I like Sergio the way he is (was?), the spoiled, talented, emotional, driven player who sometimes lets his feeling make things messy. I thing golf needs that.
ReplyDeletehe can't putt under pressure.... until he can hole the putts needed, he'll never win a major. Check the facts, great putters win majors
ReplyDeleteit is one thing to wear emotions on sleeve --- good thing
ReplyDeleteit is another to act like a spoiled brat like "the bull" did on 18 ---- bad for sergio, bad for golf.
gg may not think this is a bad thing but i do -- he is getting better but he needs some work before he is ready to be a major champion.
Sergio = Spoiled, Egoistic, Rude, Grandiloquent,I,nsolent,Obnoxious
ReplyDeleteI have to give Sergio props. When he came onto the scene I wondered how long he would last and if he could handle the grind. He's definately growing up and showed yesterday that he didn't shrink from the battle. I see him now as the Phil of today. The kid who hasn't broken through yet. He deserves a major some time soon.
ReplyDeleteSergio handles defeat like a man. Sure, he made a grave error on 16 by going for the stick on his approach, but it wasn't the worst decision I've ever seen made on a golf course.
ReplyDeleteIt's called trying to win.
And when he fell short, he handled it like a man and chalked it up to simply one person playing better than him. No tears, no excuses.
BPNWM has many candidates just like Sergio: Steve Stricker, Stewart Cink, Colin Montgomerie, Kenny Perry. Hell, Tom Kite was damn near close until he won a US Open.
Sergio's time will come. Just like it did for guys like Phil and Vijay
I don't know how many of you watched Sergio's press conference after Sunday's round, but the "media" descended on him like vultures. They hammered him with repetitive questions about his "disappointment" and "failure" hoping to get him to lose his temper and say something stupid.
ReplyDeleteTo his credit, Sergio kept his cool and even got in a few good jabs back at these tabloid "journalists". When he got fed up with their baiting, he walked off.
Garcia has been a target of the media since 1999 when his charm caught their eye, but as he has gotten older and hasn't won as much as THEY want him to, he has become a target for their cheap shots and ridicule - and he has learned not to give these jackals any fodder.
I keep wondering if Sergio would have better results if he could be his happy-go-lucky self without a media that only wants to build up or tear down a player's reputation.
Putt for dough.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree, however I can't help but worry that as impressive at Sergio is if he doesn't win that first major soon he just may be go down as one of the greats that never lived up to their potential.
ReplyDeleteinstead of "the bull" or "el nino" he should be called "young monty" - great in ryder cup, choke artist in majors- his logo can be a crying, choking baby in a diaper - boo-fucking-hoo
ReplyDeletedear blob-io
ReplyDeleteplease change your picture. you look like a fat old guy trying to be cool for teenaged girls - not very cool at all!
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