LIV Golf UK Preview: Garcia hoping Fireballs can produce more fireworks
ROCESTER, England – Fireballs GC are on a high after an incredible week of a clean sweep at LIV Golf Andalucia, and Captain Sergio Garcia is hoping the week-long break hasn’t doused the fire in him for another good performance.
In an unprecedented finish at Valderrama, a last-hole bogey by Crushers’ Anirban Lahiri resulted in the first-ever simultaneous playoff for both individual and team titles. Garcia defeated Lahiri in the second playoff hole for his maiden LIV Golf title, while Abraham Ancer and David Puig got the better of Bryson DeChambeau and Paul Casey in the first hole for the team title.
The wins helped Garcia to move to 3rd place in the season-long Individual Standings, while Fireballs recorded their first win of the season and moved up to 6th place in Team Standings.
“Winning is always amazing. But to be able to do it on your favorite course, in front of your family and friends, in front of your home people, it’s even more special. I’ve been very fortunate to win several times in Spain. But this was extra special to do so as a team as well,” said Garcia, who had lost two playoff earlier this season – to Joaquin Niemann in the season-opening LIV Golf Mayakoba and to Dean Burmester in LIV Golf Miami.
“Hopefully, we can continue with the momentum from that week to this week in LIV Golf UK by JCB. The most important thing is that we are playing good golf and what matters the most is that we put ourselves in contention towards the end on Sunday. I think Valderrama showed that anything is possible once you do that.
“I’m glad I finally got on the other side of it (playoffs). It was a bit frustrating in the beginning, having lost three of them so far, but that’s how the game of golf is. You just got to keep giving yourself chances and wait for it to go your way.”
Garcia, who spent the whole of last week in Mykonos in Greece on a family holiday, said he would have loved getting wet and getting his cap blown off in the wind at Royal Troon, but was equally happy to have spent time with wife Angela and kids.
Asked what has led to his spectacular uptick in form this season, Garcia credited it to his driver.
“It’s just about finding the right things that click…the right practices that click for you,” said the 2017 Masters champion. “Obviously, the driver that I’m playing is helping me a lot because I feel very comfortable with it. When I drive the ball well, the rest of my game kind of follows.
“We’ve also been doing some good work, mentally, and getting better every week. Every little thing that you get better at, helps.”
Garcia felt the JCB Golf & Country Club course would severely challenge the players.
“It’s a tough track and in very good shape,” said Garcia. “A lot of blind shots, so you have to really pick your target well. And then, the greens are very tricky with a lot of slopes on them.
“So, you have to make sure that you're in the right spots. It feels like approach shots will be at a premium this week, just getting that ball near the hole, because you don’t want to make long putts on these undulating greens.”
None of the Fireballs are in any danger of falling out of the Open Zone, with Hong Kong champion Ancer in 12th place, Puig in 31st and Eugenio Chacarra in 35th place in the Individual Standings. But both Puig, who will represent Spain next week in the Paris Olympics, and Chacarra need to make a further push to get inside the top-24 (Lock Zone).