Sergio Garcia will play the next edition of the Ryder Cup, which will take place from September 28 to 30 at Le Golf National in Paris. Thomas Bjørn, captain of the European team, today unveiled his four players of free designation among whom are, in addition to the Spaniard, Paul Casey, Ian Poulter and Henrik Stenson, who will bring their experience backed by 20 participations and a total of 48 ½ points.
The European team that will try to regain the Cup at the end of the month in Paris is composed of Francesco Molinari (Italy), Justin Rose (England), Tyrrell Hatton (England) and Tommy Fleetwood (England), who have qualified through the European Tour ranking; Jon Rahm (Spain), Rory McIlroy (Northern Ireland), Alex Noren (Sweden) and Thorbjorn Olesen (Denmark), who have qualified through the world ranking; and Sergio Garcia (Spain), Paul Casey (England), Ian Poulter (Great Britain) and Henrik Stenson (Sweden), who have been chosen by captain Thomas Bjørn. Luke Donald (England), Padraig Harrington (Ireland), Robert Karlsson (Sweden), Graeme Mcdowell (Northern Ireland) and Lee Westwood (England) are their vice-captains.
Garcia and Stenson are Major winners and have taken part in nine and five editions, respectively. Sergio will land in Paris with the incentive of becoming the top scorer in the history of the European team, he would have to win three points to achieve it.
Poulter has played a pivotal role in his five previous appearances including three consecutive victories in 2010, 2012 and 2014; and Casey returns to the Ryder Cup ten years after playing the three in a row from 2004 to 2008, which resulted in two European victories.
In his eight previous appearances, Sergio, winner of the Augusta Masters in 2017, has contributed 22 ½ points and has contributed in five victories; he is currently tied fifth in the European top scorers list and his record in foursomes is impressive: of the 15 matches he has played under this format, he has won nine and tied in three. He has played a total of 37 matches, winning 19, losing 12 and drawing 7.
Sergio Garcia: “I am happy, the Ryder Cup means a lot to me, everyone knows it. Even though it has been a tough year, the fact that the captain (Thomas Bjørn) has trusted me means a lot, I am very grateful. It is an immense joy to be able to participate, not for the fact of playing another Ryder Cup but for what it means to be part of the European team, to be with my teammates, to bring all the experience I can and to support the rookies. There is no competition comparable to the Ryder Cup, it is very special.
“This will be my tenth participation, nine as a player and one as vice-captain. The experiences you live in the Ryder Cup are unique and never forgotten. I played the first one in 1999 (The Country Club, Brookline, Massachusetts, USA 14 ½ – Europe 13 ½) and I remember many beautiful moments, the matches with Jesper Parnevik, the great shots we hit. In the fourball, I think on the second day, I hit it on the eighth hole with the wedge and it was a spectacular moment.
“In 2002 (The Belfry, Sutton Coldfield, England, Europe 15 ½ – USA 12 ½) I played very good matches with Lee Westwood and we won three; I remember a very tough one against Tiger Woods and Davis Love III that was very tight and they beat us on 18, but on the first day we beat Tiger along with Mark Calcavecchia. I also remember McGinley’s putt. It was my first win with the team and I really enjoyed it.
“In 2004 (Oakland Hills, Bloomfield Township, Michigan, Europe 18 ½ – USA 9 ½) I helped the team quite a bit with 4 points, we all played amazing and beat them up. In the singles I managed to beat Mickelson on 16 and it was the second win with the team. Very impressive.
“In 2006 (The K Club, Straffan, Ireland, Europe 18 ½ – USA 9 ½) it was a very nice week. I played two very good matches with Chema (Olazábal) and the other two with another great friend, Luke Donald. Despite the rain, the crowd support was incredible, as always in Ireland. Winning it for Darren Clarke, who had just lost Heather, his wife, was very emotional.
“The 2008 Ryder Cup (Valhalla, Louisville, Kentucky, USA 16 ½ – Europe 11 ½). It was the hardest I’ve played for several reasons: on a personal level, the week before I was sick, I was taking antibiotics and I was very low on energy, I felt weak and the Ryder Cup demands a lot from you, you have to play at full energy. We were weak and they beat us well.
“In 2010 (Celtic Manor, Southport, Wales, Europe 14 ½ – USA 13 ½) I was vice-captain with Colin Montgomerie, a strange feeling and a very strange Ryder Cup. It was very hard not to be able to help the team, it was a “I want to and I can’t”. It rained a lot and it didn’t finish until Monday, but, once again, the public was fantastic. To get the Cup back was very important after losing the previous edition.
“From 2012 (Medinah, Illinois, Europe 14 ½ – USA 13 ½) it is very difficult to choose a moment, there were so many! Sunday was incredible, not only for the comeback we achieved and for making history, but for who we did it for: we won for Seve (Ballesteros) and for Chema (Olazábal) who have contributed so much to the Ryder Cup, my two idols and friends. My match against Jim Furyk was tough and very tense, we were very close all the time: on the 11th I hit it from the outside and on the 16th he made a very good putt that bordered the hole, but I managed to beat him on the last two holes and score a point to continue with the team’s good run, which was getting closer to the Cup.
“In 2014 (Gleneagles, Perthshire, Scotland, Europe 16 ½ – USA 11 ½) I played three matches with Rory (McIlroy) and we really enjoyed it. Even though we were not at our best, the result was good. We beat Jim Furyk and Hunter Mahan, and in the match we tied against Jimmy Walker and Rickie Fowler: Rory holed a 10-meter putt to put us 1 under and on the 18th I hit a five wood from the rough to make 4, and we beat them on that hole! In the singles I made eagle on 16 to put me 1 up and beat Furyk.
“In 2016 (Hazeltine, Chaska, Minnesota, USA 17 – Europe 11) some things happened that didn’t help us, like the problem Danny Willett had with his brother, which affected all of us and left him quite touched. I will never forget my match against Phil Mickelson, it was incredible, between the two of us we made 19 birdies and we got a very good tie. I made birdies on the last four holes.
“I’m looking forward to the Ryder Cup, I’m ready to give everything. I like Le Golf National very much, it is a very demanding course, but not only from 15 to 18, which are very tense holes where anything can happen under pressure, but from the moment you stand on the tee of one”.
AMERICANS
The U.S. Ryder Cup team, pending the captain’s choice of the fourth player, is composed of Brooks Koepka, Dustin Johnson, Justin Thomas, Jordan Spieth, Patrick Reed, Webb Simpson, Rickie Fowler, Bubba Watson, Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and Bryson DeChambeau. The latter three are the free designation of the captain, Jim Furyk, who seems to be opting on Monday, after the BMW Championship, for Toni Finau to complete the team.
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