Opinion & Analysis
How Sergio Garcia flipped the script to become a major champion
Admit it. When Sergio Garcia’s drive wound up in a bush to the left of the 13th fairway at Augusta National, you thought he was finished. And you thought this, not only because of the low probability of any player recovering and beating Justin Rose, given the Englishman’s position and pedigree at that point in the round, but because the player attempting to do so was Sergio Garcia.
You know, the Sergio Garcia who simply doesn’t win majors. The guy whose ball famously wouldn’t fall in the hole at the 2007 Open Championship at Carnoustie. The guy who said he wasn’t good enough to win golf’s most significant tournaments and instead was playing for second or third. The guy who never minced words about the fact that, let’s just say, Augusta National didn’t suit his game. Hell, the guy who, at 19, looked like he was poised to be the next Tiger Woods, but who, entering Sunday, was 0 for 74 in major championships.
You’ve seen the rest of what happened at Augusta National Sunday several times at this point, so there’s no need to rehash the play-by-play here. Garcia battled back from back-nine adversity to tie Ryder Cup teammate Justin Rose. He made a miraculous par after having to take a drop at the aforementioned 13th hole. And after narrowly missing his birdie effort at the 18th hole in regulation, he played that hole to perfection on the first hole of the playoff, rolling in his birdie putt amid a double-clenched-fist overflowing of emotion.
How did this happen? Of course, we were presented with narrative overload about Sunday being the 60th birthday of Sergio’s hero and countryman, Seve Ballesteros. And perhaps the legend of Seve is one of fearlessness and self-belief. Certainly, Sergio was thinking these things Sunday. But what else?
Well, far from being a bundle of nerves, Garcia, who has seen a thing or two, was comfortable.
“I don’t want to brag about it or anything, but from the drive this morning here to the course, I felt very calm,” Garcia said after the round. “I felt very, you know, very at ease, more than yesterday. Even though yesterday I played well, I was a little bit more nervous. It was tough to control my emotions sometimes. But today, I felt comfortable all day.”
OK. Fine, but you’d expect him to be comfortable knowing that he’d probably shoot 74 and finish tied for 10th as he has so many times in the past. Surely, this is what most expected from Garcia. While he’s been physically capable of winning a major championship for 20 years, the Spaniard faced obvious mental hurdles.
How did he clear them? Well, while it’s a ready-made narrative: “Sergio finds love and a happy home life and majors follow.” There’s clearly something to it. Not only is Garcia eminently content, it’s clear fiancé Angela Akins is helping him to be not just a better man, but a better player; he’s in a better headspace to succeed as a high-level professional golfer.
If you were watching the telecast, you saw Akins step inside the ropes as Sergio headed off to the first hole of the playoff to offer encouragement as Sergio walked by looking a bit dejected after missing a five-footer to win. Akins is also reportedly relentlessly positive and competitive, traits she likely learned from her father Marty, a standout quarterback at the University of Texas.
Indeed, here’s what Garcia had to say after the win.
“It definitely helps, there’s no doubt about the background that the whole family has. Marty is a very, very positive, very, you know, outspoken and very, very confident kind of guy, and it definitely helps when he’s encouraging you and things like that. Those things are nice to see. Angela is the same way. They are all very competitive. So you know, they are positive things to help out, for sure.”
Let’s take this to a more practical level. While it would be an oversimplification to attribute Garcia’s attitude/thought-pattern shift merely to Akins, chalking it up to her influence plus the combination of maturity and experience may not be too extreme.
Listen to Garcia talking about his efforts to deal constructively with adversity and self-defeating thoughts.
“This week, I’ve done it better than I’ve ever had, and you know, because of that, I’ve looked at the course in a different way throughout the whole week. … I’m not going to lie; it’s not the golf course that I’m most comfortable in, because I’ve become more of a fader than a drawer of the ball, and this golf course is asking you to hit a lot of draws. But I knew that I could still work it around, you know, if I just accepted what was happening. So I’m very proud of that.”
And if that wasn’t clear enough, consider these remarks from the now-major-winning Spaniard.
”I think the problem is, because where my head was at sometimes, I did think about, am I ever going to win one? I’ve had so many good chances and either I lost them or someone has done something extraordinary to beat me. So it did cross my mind. But lately, you know, I’ve been getting some good help and I’ve been thinking a little bit, a little bit different, a little bit more positive. And kind of accepting, too, that if it for whatever reason it didn’t happen, my life is still going to go on. It’s not going to be a disaster.”
You don’t to be Dr. Bob Rotella to realize that the “thinking a little bit…different” is what needed to happen for Garcia to win a major.
It seems appropriate to fire up the old Bobby Jones quote, considering Garcia just won the tournament he founded: “Competitive golf is played mainly on a five-and-a-half-inch course… the space between your ears.” This has always seemed especially true for Sergio Garcia, a prodigy on the physical golf course. But now, at 37, with some “good help,” he’s both a major champion and a master of that five-and-a-half-inch course.
Aronimink is not a storied club, but when Donald Ross himself proclaimed it to be as good as he can design and build, one had to take notice. Jay Sigel was the pre-eminent male amateur golfer from the mid-1970s to the mid-1990s. He might have called any number of Philadelphia clubs home, but he chose Aronimink. It served him well. Gary Player won a PGA Championship here in 1962, and was followed by the 1993 winner … nobody. Aronimink gave that event away to Inverness, for reasons of which it is certainly not proud. So be it. We had to wait sixty-four years for the PGA to return to Newtown Square, but here we are. Aronimink has been neo-restored by Gil Hanse and team, to return Ross features with an eye toward defense against the dark arts, errrr, high-tech equipment.
Day one saw Rory McIlroy and Bryson DeChambeau dig big holes, to the tune of plus-four and plus-six, respectively. Since the first-round lead will be minus-three at worst, many shots will need to be made up for the power couple to reach contention. By nightfall, seven golfers held the day-one lead at three-under par 67. Shots and sticks caught our attention, and we are proud to present Five Things We Learned on Tech Thursday at the 2026 PGA Championship. Thanks to InsideTourGolfer, Today’s Golfer, and GolfWRX for initial equipment research.
First, meet Min Woo Lee
Min Woo Lee, aka Dr. Chipinski, has once again thrust himself into the conversation of Can he, will he, when will he? Lee has so much talent, wins not nearly as often as we believe that he should, and has no major near-misses (much less titles) on his wiki. The young Aussie is getting older and wiser, but is he able to avoid the scarring that holds the older and wiser back from breaking through? Philadelphia offers another opportunity. Min Woo signed for five birdies and two bogeys on day one, and grabbed a share of the opening-day lead at Aronimink. Winners transcend history and the moment, and Lee will need that sort of ascent to lift the Wannamaker on Sunday.
Second, meet Aldrich Potgeiter
The young South African golfer can rip driver with the best of them. Aronimink tips out at nearly 7400 yards, but beyond the fairway bunkers that ensnare only the mortals, Potgeiter can take his chances with wedge from the rough. On Thursday, he spent plenty of time in the spinach. Like Popeye, he used his muscles to gouge and thrash and dig his way out. Six birdies against three bogeys on the card brought AP in a three deep.
Third, meet Martin Kaymer
Not a major event takes place without a where’s he been throwback moment. We know that Martin Kaymer left the PGA and DP World tours for LIV golf, but the two-time (US Open and PGA) major winner has a lifetime exemption into at least one major event, and he seizes the opportunity each May. Kaymer joined the six-seven brigade with four birdies and a solitary bogey on day one. Kaymer was never a long hitter, and the years are kind to no golfer. The German champion will need to uncork every bottle of guile and strategy in his cabinet to remain in contention. For today, though, he occupies a rung on the ladder of Tour Tech.
Fourth, meet Scottie Scheffler
Let’s see, he’s the defending champion at the PGA, and he found his way back to the top tier with five birdies against two bogeys. To be a favorite and then play up to that stature and expectation is quite difficult. Just ask Rory, Bryson, and some of the other pre-tournament heartthrobs. Scheffler’s game is complete, and to knock him off the OWGR #1 pedestal, one needs to defeat him at the majors. Aronimink is the sort of course that fits Scheffler’s game. Better yet, it unfits the game of many of his challengers. Don’t expect Scheffler to go away anytime soon. Come Sunday, he’ll be around.
Fifth, meet Stephan Jaeger
Clocking in for the unheralded players shift are Ryo Hisatsune and Stephan Jaeger. Hisatsune logged seven birdies on day one, but gave most of them back with four bogeys. Still, he’s tied at the top for a time. Jaeger pitched five birdies against two bogeys, including a run of three consecutive, from holes four through six. Odds are that one of the two will hang around through 36 holes. Odds also suggest that both will be gone by Saturday evening. Still, the PGA Championship has historically been the major most likely to be won by an under-known. Both Hisatsune and Jaeger feature on that list, so good luck, lads!
On this episode of the Club Junkie Podcast, I head to the Titleist Performance Institute for a full driver fitting with the new Titleist GTS lineup. We dive into the fitting process, talk about what made the biggest difference in performance, and break down how the different GTS heads and shaft combinations compare on the launch monitor. If you are thinking about a new driver setup for this season, there is a lot to take away from this one.
I also get into Brooks Koepka and the gear setup he brought to the PGA Championship, including the putters that caught my eye during the week. There are some interesting equipment trends showing up at the highest level right now and we break down what stands out.
To wrap things up, I talk about reshafting a few wedges, what I learned during the process, and swapping an adaptor onto a new shaft for another build project in the shop. A gear packed episode from start to finish for anyone who loves golf equipment and club building.
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Excited for this week’s WITB as we get to add the new Titleist GTS woods to the bag! I was fit at Titleist’s TPI facility in Oceanside California a few weeks ago and my new clubs just showed up. I am also adding a cool set of irons that I built last year some wild custom wedges into a new golf bag. Speaking of the bag I have a new Ghost Anyday Black Ops stand bag that I will be using on my Motocaddy Remote M7 electric cart.
Driver: Titleist GTS3 (11 degrees @ 10.25)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Red 6s
3-wood: Titleist GT1 3Tour (14.5 degrees)
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD CQ-7s
5-wood: Titleist GTS (18 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Red 7s
9-wood: Titleist GT1 (24 degress)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Red 7s
Irons: Bettinardi CB24 (5-PW)
Shafts: KBS C-Taper Lite 110 stiff
Wedge: TaylorMade MG5 (50-09 SB)
Shaft: Mitsubishi MMT 125 Stiff
Wedge: TaylorMade MG5 (56-12 SB)
Shaft: Mitsubishi MMT 125 Stiff
Wedge: TaylorMade MG5 (60-08 LB)
Shaft: Mitsubishi MMT 125 Stiff
Putter: Dan Carraher ZT Proto
Ball: Callaway Chrome Tour
Bag: Ghost Anyday Black Ops Stand Bag
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Justin Rose on the switch to McLaren Golf, learnings from previous equipment moves
Photos from the 2026 PGA Championship
Patrick Reed WITB 2026 (May)
Driver: Titleist GT3 (9 degrees) Buy here. Shaft: Aldila Rogue Silver 130 M.S.I. 70 TX 3-wood: TaylorMade Qi35 (15 degrees)...
Aaron Rai’s winning WITB: 2026 PGA Championship
Driver: TaylorMade M6 (9 degrees) Shaft: Aldilda Synergy Blue 70 TX 3-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 (15 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue...
Michael Block WITB 2026 (May)
Driver: TaylorMade Qi4D (9 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black VeloCore+ 5 X 3-wood: TaylorMade Qi4D (15 degrees @14.25) Shaft: Mitsubishi...
Bryson DeChambeau WITB 2026 (May)
Driver: Krank Formula Fire Pro (6 degrees) Shaft: Project X Prototype 3-wood: Krank Formula Fire (10 degrees) Shaft: LA Golf BAD...
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golfraven
Apr 11, 2017 at 10:41 am
It is funny and somehow bizzare how the media is using the word “script”. I heard it in the broadcast and now read it here as well. Was it scripted? Coincidence, maybe? However still great to see Sergio win it after all.
John Grossi
Apr 11, 2017 at 9:57 am
I agree with just about all previous comments. However, I think the putter change was just as instrumental in his win. That Spider putter is absolutely golden. So many players using it now, reminds me of the old Ping Anser days. TM’s Spiders will be classics one day. Great to see that Sergio victory.
SS
Apr 11, 2017 at 3:55 am
Yet another tremendous duel at a major championship. We could not have asked for more, especially after last year’s Open at Troon.
"Narrowly?"
Apr 11, 2017 at 1:45 am
Great article!…….apart from the “narrowly missing the birdie putt on 18” bit. That was literally the worst stroke he made all week. Dude
Butts
Apr 11, 2017 at 7:27 am
The putt on 18 went right where he was looking. It just didn’t break.
The putt on 16 was a poor stroke that he quit on. 18 was a good stroke but a mis-read.
Tim
Apr 10, 2017 at 11:31 pm
Happy for Sergio, could not have been more impressed with Justin Rose’s graciousness. What a duel!
The Real Swanson
Apr 10, 2017 at 6:33 pm
Great article Ben, and I’m afraid that’s not something I feel I can say on this site much anymore. More like this would be greatly appreciated.
Pingback: Masters Final Round Link Roll – Sergio Finally Gets A Major | GolfJay
George
Apr 10, 2017 at 2:08 pm
It’s funny how that Spieth-Kid breaks apart when a few holes run afoul. His attempt to win his second Masters ended on the third hole on Sunday. It’s just sad how he dragged Ricky down with him.
Now to all the haters: Sergio won a Major! There you go. Choke on it if you want to. Would he have won with DJ in the Field? Who knows. I don’t and you do neither so shut it!
lane
Apr 10, 2017 at 1:12 pm
Great tournament and a big hand to Sergio….I also like how I did not see the Number one ball in Golf in that playoff? Two Taylormade balls good enough for a Masters playoff….
Christosterone
Apr 10, 2017 at 12:51 pm
I am now and will always be a Sergio fan.
-Chris
Jim
Apr 10, 2017 at 12:10 pm
Great tournament. It was a very different Sergio out there that rebounded well after an errant shot, where before he would visibly slump his shoulders and disappear from contention. He persevered and was able to play very well alongside Justin Rose and ultimately win the tournament. I think this is only the beginning with Sergio contending in all the majors for some time. Good luck to him. It was great to watch.
TCJ
Apr 10, 2017 at 11:40 am
Great perseverance shown to battle back for the win. A memorable Masters to be sure. Way to go Sergio!