SERGIO GARCIA
The last player to win back-to-back green jackets
was Tiger Woods in 2002. The only other player
to achieve the rare feat was Jack Nicklaus back
in 1966.
Given it took the Spaniard 18 years to win his
fi rst major at the Masters last year, the historical
odds are stacked against him, not to mention the
fact that there will be plenty of distractions for the
defending champion during Masters week.
If he can successfully navigate his way through
the functions, Champion’s dinner and media
commitments, Garcia has the form and Augusta
National experience to contend deep into
Sunday afternoon.
On the back of winning the Singapore Openback in January, Garcia by-passed the PGA Tour’s
west coast swing and began his Masters prep at
the Honda Classic at the end of February. The
following week in Mexico he was well and truly in
the mix during the final round but closed with a 70
to take a share of seventh place.
If he can maintain his 68.928 current season
scoring average through four rounds of the
Masters he might become just the third player not
to have the green jacket presented to them by the
outgoing champion.
WHY HE CAN WIN:Sergio is a supreme ball-
striker who hits a lot of greens and will be hoping
he can emulate his putting performance from the
2017 Masters to go back-to-back.MASTERS RECORD
PLAYED: 19
BEST FINISH: Win (2017)
TOP-10S: 4
SCORING AVERAGE: 71.35
(66 rounds)
BEST SCORE: 66
WORST SCORE: 81A mix of power hitters, wily strategists and in-form players are among the
favoured contenders for this year’s Masters.
WORDS BRENDAN JAMES PHOTOGRAPHY GETTY IMAGESGREEN
JACKET
Chasing the
32 APRIL 2018 | golf australia