What’s In The Bag Sergio Garcia

Full name Sergio García

Nickname El Niño

Born 9 January 1980 (1980-01-09) (age 29)

Borriol, Castellón, Spain

Height 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)

Weight 160 lb (73 kg; 11 st)

Residence Borriol, Castellón, Spain

Turned professional 1999

Professional wins 19

Sergio Garcia was born on January 9, 1980. The second of three children, he grew up in the Spanish town of Borriol, a short distance from his country’s east coast and about an hour north of Valencia. At the time, his father, Victor Sr., was the pro at the Mediterraneo Golf Club, and his mother, Consuelo, ran the pro shop. In fact, she was working there when she went into labour with Sergio.

Golf was a passion enjoyed by the entire Garcia family. Sergio’s older brother by three years, Victor Jr., got the bug first. He eventually attended college on a golf scholarship. Mar, Sergio's younger sister by four years, would go on to play at the University of Arizona.

Sergio began mimicking his father’s swing at age two, with a broom or feather duster. Victor Sr. cut down a set of clubs for his son when he was three. From then on Sergio was hooked. As a child, he often worked on his game on his own. He’d walk the course at Mediterraneo Golf Club and practice hitting difficult shots between trees and from uneven lies. To that he added a few finishing touches courtesy of his idol Seve Ballesteros

García turned professional in 1999 after shooting the lowest amateur score in the 1999 Masters Tournament. His first title on the European Tour came in his sixth start as a professional at the Irish Open. He first achieved worldwide prominence with a duel against Tiger Woods in the 1999 PGA Championship, where he eventually finished second. He now has eight European Tour wins and seven PGA Tour wins to his credit. García was a member of the European Ryder Cup team in 1999, 2002, 2004, 2006, and 2008 and holds an impressive career record at the Ryder Cup of 14-3-3. As three of his appearances have resulted in overall victories, his input in the team has proved invaluable.

Sergio is rated as one of the best drivers in the world. He normally works the ball from right to left with amazing control. Even on tight courses, he isn’t afraid to hit woods off the tee. This is partly why his performance in majors is so impressive. An emotional athlete Sergio battles his temper both on the course and in the press room. In 2007 he encountered criticism when he spat in the cup during the Doral Championship after three-putting. His heavily publicized break up in 2009 with Morgan Leigh Norman further added to his woes both on and off the course.

What’s In Sergio’s Bag