Sergio Garcia
Holy cow, is it possible that Sergio Garcia is really 27 years old and (nearly) all grown-up? It seems like just a flash since El Niño was hitting that miracle shot around the tree and sprinting up the fairway at the 1999 PGA Championship. But becoming the ultimate Ryder Cup warrior, having a couple of high-profile girlfriends and a bunch of fast cars can make a man out of you in a hurry. Sergio paid a visit to the IGWT couch to have his turn at our tricky-tough pop quiz, which shows just how much today’s top golfers know about themselves. And guess, what, Sergio knows quite a bit about Sergio:
IGWT: What is your average driving distance in 2006 on the PGA Tour?
SG: Umm, I’m gonna go with 290.6 yards.
IGWT: Not bad. It was 292.7.
0 out of 1
IGWT: In 2002, during a practice round, you made an albatross (double eagle) on the par-5 second hole at the Masters, one of the few players to have ever done so. There have only been three double eagles in Augusta, any idea who they are?
SG: Gene Sarazen of course. I had no idea there was any others.
IGWT: You got one right. Gene Sarazen (1935, 15th hole) “the shot heard around the world”, Bruce Devlin (1967, eighth) and Jeff Maggert (1994, 13th).
SG: OK.
.33 out of 1
IGWT: What was your first PGA Tour tournament win?
SG: 2001 MasterCard Colonial.
IGWT: Correct!
1 out of 1
IGWT: In 2001 you won the Buick Classic and the MasterCard Colonial. How much money did you net from both in Dollars?
SG: This is a bit of a guess. I’m gonna say $1,650,000.
IGWT: It was $1,350,000…
0 out of 1
IGWT: You won the Buick Classic again in 2004, any idea what your card read like?
SG: 70-67-68-67.
IGWT: You got it!
1 out of 1
IGWT: What are your interests, according to the European PGA Tour official website?
SG: Computer games, Real Madrid FC, of course … and tennis.
IGWT: Yep. And for our interest’s sake, what is your favourite computer game?
SG: I have two: F1 and tennis.
1 out of 1
IGWT: You achieved your first Ryder Cup win in singles in 2004, but who was it against and by what margin?
SG: Phil Mickelson. I got him 3&2.
IGWT: Well done.
1 out of 1
IGWT: What is your current year PGA Tour money earnings, and where do you rank?
SG: I think it’s about $3,650,000. That’ll be 10th or ninth. I’m going with ninth.
IGWT: You got the position right. The earnings are $3,721,185.
SG: Well, as long as it’s more than I think, then that’s OK … hahahaha!
1 out of 1
IGWT: You turned professional in 1999. Which PGA European Tour tournament did you win, and with what score?
SG: Murphy’s Irish Open, 16-under.
IGWT: Spot on. For a bonus point, who finished second and third in that tournament?
SG: That was Cabrera and Moseley.
IGWT: Good memory.
SG: Yeah, I remember that week quite well.
2 out of 2
IGWT: What do you, Steven Gerrard, Christina Aguilera and Venus Williams all have in common?
SG: Hey … do we share a birthday or something?
IGWT: Not quite, but you’re pretty close...
SG: Uh, not birthdays! … Are we all born in the same year?
IGWT: Which year would that be?
SG: 1980.
IGWT: That’s correct. But then, I suppose you would know that.
SG: I better!
0.5 out of 1
IGWT: Who is Real Madrid’s greatest player?
SG: Di Stefano.
IGWT: I’m sorry, but the answer we have here is Jonathan Woodgate.
SG: Jonathan Woodgate? Ah no way, man, you’re kidding! That can’t be. Get outta here, man.
0 out of 1
IGWT: What were Real Madrid’s results against Barcelona last season?
SG: I know that. It was win at home 2-0 and tie 3-3 in Barcelona.
IGWT: Very good.
1 out of 1
IGWT: In 2006, what to the nearest stroke was your stroke average?
SG: That’s a good one. I’m gonna go with 69.6. So that would be 70 to the nearest stroke.
IGWT: Again, very good.
1 out of 1
IGWT: In 2005, you won the Booz Allen Classic on the PGA Tour. How many shots did you finish clear and who came tied in second?
SG: It was two shots from Davis Love III, Ben Crane and Adam Scott.
IGWT: You’re right! 1 out of 1
1 out of 1
IGWT: Any idea what your longest drive was on the European Tour in your rookie year, 1999?
SG: It must be close to 350. I’m gonna say 347 yards.
IGWT: Pretty close. It was 342 yards.
0 out of 1
IGWT: What is your current-year PGA Tour best round?
SG: 64 at the Tour Championship.
1 out of 1
IGWT: Easy one, this: In the 2006 Ryder Cup at the K Club, you won both your fourball and foursome matches. Who were your partners? SG: Olazábal and Donald.
1 out of 1
IGWT: What is your PGA Tour play-off record?
SG: Another easy one. 3-3.
1 out of 1
IGWT: OK, last question: Who were your partners in the 1999 Dunhill Cup, which, funnily enough, you won?
SG: Three easy ones to end off with. Miguel Ángel Jiménez and José María Olazábal. IGWT: You got it.
1 out of 1
IGWT: Thanks, Sergio. I think you’ve done pretty good here. We may have a new leader in the clubhouse once the boys tally up your score.
SG: That’s what I want. Thanks!
Final Score: 14.83/20
