~Finding Sergio

This piece was written after Sergio's final round last year; but since he is making his US debut this week, it deserves a repost.

Psychologists have noted that people remember the beginning and ending to a series, but not much in the middle. Let’s hope that Sergio Garcia can soon forget the middle of his career and start composing a memorable ending. If not, it will be a great loss to the golfing community. 

In a recent European Tour Broadcast, Sergio was once again the topic of discussion as he putted out on eighteen for his final round of the year. “Sergio must get back to finding a passion for the game” they said, and I agreed. “Look at Lee Westwood” as he battled back from renting the basement floor of the world rankings. Why stop there. You might as well throw in a couple of boys from down under as well—Stuart Appleby and Adam Scott--who have won this year. And don’t forget two-time “comeback player of the year”, Steve Stricker. All are suitable examples for Sergio to follow except for one thing, and it pains me to write it even from the comfy confines of my couch. The truth is that Sergio will not be another “comeback” story until he shows the thing the aforementioned have already displayed---CHARACTER. 

The busting Sergio that scissor kicked his way around Medinah with youthful enthusiasm has been replaced not with maturity, but with youthful petulance. You remember the quotes. There were the golf gods at Carnoustie—“I'm playing against a lot of guys out there, more than the field. It's funny how some guys hit the pin and go to a foot. Mine hits the pin and goes 20 feet away." Don’t forget the unlucky guy raking the bunker who took “forever” and left poor Sergio to wait an eternity to play his final shot into eighteen.  There were USGA officials at the US Open at Bethpage—“If it was raining that hard on Tiger, they would have called it.” Self sabotage is self sabotage whether you’re Sergio Garcia or John Daly. At least Daly doesn’t blame anyone but himself. He even blamed his putting woes on his recent weight loss. He said that he putted better when he was fat because he could rest his arms right on his “love handles.” 

Instead, Sergio refuses to look in the mirror for the same reasons Tiger said he was afraid to look in the mirror—“for fear of what he might find.” Sergio’s real problem is that you don’t find character like you found your lost golf swing. Character is revealed over time like Jack Nicholas and Arnold Palmer. Sergio has bigger problems than not winning golf tournaments. First he needs to find a mirror.