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Sergio Garcia -- Final-round interview
Julius Mason: Good late afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. For
what it's worth, as a reminder, Sergio Garcia is the second youngest
to compete in The PGA Championship, and as of today, he's the
youngest runner-up ever in PGA Championship history.
Sergio, wonderful round today. Some thoughts on your final round,
Championship week, and we'll go to questions and answers.
Julius Mason: Thank you, Sergio. We'll take a few questions, and then we'll go through the card. Question: Yes, Sergio, can you tell me a little bit about 13 tee. Did you look back at -- 13 green actually. You looked back at the tee. Did you see Tiger? Do you think he recognized you? And second part, six weeks from today, who do you want to draw in the Ryder Cup singles? Sergio Garcia: Well, I'm sure Tiger recognized me on the 13th green because -- well, Stewart and myself, we were wearing more or less the same kind of dress or we were dressing more or less the same way. But my shirt was a little darker. So I'm sure he recognized me. But, well, I wasn't -- at that time I wasn't really thinking about winning the tournament because he was minus 15 and then he put the bogey on 12th and he turned to 14; I was 3 shots behind him but it was pretty exciting. And about Ryder Cup -- you mean in the singles? I don't care. I mean -- well, I care. I like to play with Tiger. But I don't know. Mark James will put the pairings like he -- well, like he will think it will be the best for a team. And if I don't play with Tiger, I'll play with whoever I play. Just playing in the Ryder Cup will be great. Question: Yeah, follow up to that, Sergio, when you made the birdie putt at 13, the TV announcer said you looked back at the tee with kind of a challenge look at Tiger. Was that the case? Sergio Garcia: Well, I wanted him to know that I was still there and to show him that he had to finish well to win. But it wasn't -- it wasn't -- I don't know how to say, but kind of a bad thing. I mean, I did it with good feelings, not hoping now make a triple bogey or whatever. So I was kind of telling him: If you want to win, you have to play well. Question: You talked about the crowd being great. Did you feel as though you were the crowd favorite more than Tiger was? Sergio Garcia: I mean, it was unbelievable when he made the double on 13 and they put it on the scoreboard. I was on the 14th green, and they start screaming. And well, right there I realized that they were with me. But it was something incredible. Question: Sergio, phenomenal shot on the 16th. Can you take us through that shot? What did you hit and what were you thinking and how close did you come to killing yourself? Sergio Garcia: Pretty close. I had 189 to the pin. Wind helping from the left and I was in the tree. I had a shot, but the main problem was the tree was making kind of a B, so I had to hit it with a big slice and the problem was that on the downswing, I could hit the first part of the tree. So I was making sure not to do that, but not to hit it to the right also because if I hit it a little to the right, if I started right, I will hit the second part of the tree with the ball. So I just put myself there. I opened the clubface, and I made a full swing, tried to slice it. And when I was going on the downswing, I just closed my eyes, hit the ball, and went backwards just in case the ball hit the tree and comes to me. And well, then I opened my eyes and I saw the ball going to the green, and I was pretty excited there. Question: Yes, Sergio, two questions. Have you thought about why it is that an American crowd might be more for you than for Tiger? And part two, do you believe this is the beginning of the rivalry that we have all been discussing? Thank you. Sergio Garcia: I don't know. I don't know why, but it looks like they like me and I also like them. So I said that I always try to make the crowds enjoy and I have a lot of respect to them. That's why I always take my hat off. Not all the greens but most of them. And I don't know why. Maybe you have to ask them, but -- well, it looks like they love me. And the second part, yes, well, I said when I turned pro that I wanted to be the number one golfer in the world. And so I knew I was going to be a rival for Tiger. But I said that I want to be a rival but always being friends like we did today. Question: (Question in Spanish.) Sergio Garcia: He have asked me what happened with the little branch I had on 16 between the ball -- well, it was just left of the ball. It was like 5 inches from the ball. The problem was that because of having the tree and that little branch, I wanted to take it off just in case it will make something bad for my swing. I mean, hit it and have the clubface do something strange. So I went around and I took it. I was pretty patient there. It took me like almost a minute to take that because I was making sure not to move the ball. And, well, the second question was the same that she asked me about why the crowds love me. I've already answered in English, so I'm going to tell him in Spanish. (Answering in Spanish.) Question: Sergio, what happened on your tee shot on 15 and what did you hit off the tee? Sergio Garcia: I hit a 2-iron and the problem was -- I hit 2-iron every day in that hole and I hit it perfect every day, aiming to the left bunker with a little fade. So I tried to do the same thing, but the problem I had today is that I pulled -- I pulled a couple of shots, so I didn't want to pull that one and I kind of pulled it a little too much and I hit it a little right. Question: Sergio, do you think that when you're a little more experienced, a bit of a grizzled veteran, say like at age 20, you might think twice about playing the shot that you played at 16 and maybe lay up? And also as a grizzled veteran, at the age of 20, do you think you'll run that fast and jump that high after the shot? Sergio Garcia: I thought about it. I thought about laying up. But what I also thought is that I knew I could hit it probably 10 yards left of the green. And I thought, well, maybe if I hit it straight and I end up in the crowds, I'll probably have a good lay and a lot of green to work with. The problem of laying up, it was that I had to hit it probably 30, 35 yards and then hit a wedge or a 9-iron to be in position. So I thought, if you don't slice it and you end up in the crowds, you might have a chance to make 4. Question: Follow up about the running and the jumping. Sergio Garcia: I'll probably do it till I can't. When I won't be able to do it, I'll stop. But, you know, probably if I was 1-under par, I wouldn't do it, but I was so excited about that shot that it was the first thing that came from me. I wanted to see where the ball was going to land, so I started running and jumping. Question: Sergio, how long did it take you to get out of your mind the ball that went in the water? And have you had a chance to think about that shot again? And then the second part of that is at what point precisely did you look and think to yourself I can win this? Sergio Garcia: Well, first of all, the first one, thanks for reminding me because I didn't remember I hit it in the water on the second. When you tell me about the water, I was -- which hole I did it. I just forget it after I made the putt, after I made the bogey putt, I forgot I hit it to water. And what was the other question? Question: At what point did you think you would win? Sergio Garcia: On the 14th, after my second shot when I was chipping and I saw that Tiger made double, I thought I had a good chance if I made 4 there and I almost did. But then after that, well, I made bogey on 15. I thought Tiger was going to make birdie on 14, but he didn't. And when I hit the shot on 17 and I saw that he made bogey on 16, I thought I had a good chance, but probably the first time I thought that was on 14. Question: Sergio, I wonder your thoughts about this -- and I think I'm right. I think you came in here 129 on the money list, second place pays, I think, 350, $360,000. Definitely puts you in the 125 category to give you your card next year. I wonder your thoughts about knowing that you've earned your card here? Sergio Garcia: Well, it's great, but I was 119th? I was 119th because I played three tournaments. I played three tournaments and without the one I played last week that, because of the jet lag and everything I was a little tired and couldn't play my best. I finished third at the Byron Nelson and 11th at the Memorial, so I knew that if I had a good week here and maybe next week or NEC, I had a lot of tournaments to make my card. But now I know I have it and I'm really, really, really happy about that. Question: Yes, I just wondered at what point you realized you had lost your chances to win and what your thoughts were if you had any thoughts at that moment. Sergio Garcia: Well, I thought after hitting my -- what was it? -- after hitting my second shot on the 18th, I heard the people, well, screaming on 17, so I thought Tiger made birdie, because on the tee shot, I couldn't see the green and they kind of -- they were clapping and everything. So I saw Tiger make it like this. I thought he hit a good shot, and I thought he made birdie there, so I went like (frowning). I'm two behind and I knew it was almost impossible. But when I saw -- when I saw that Tiger made par, well, I realized that I had to make that putt and hope that he made bogey -- well, par the best, par or bogey. Q. Yes, there were millions of children and young people that saw today and now they're going to want to be golfers like you. Your thoughts on that or your advice to all these people who have yet to take up the game. The children? Sergio Garcia: Well, my thoughts are good ones. If I -- if I help the golf, if I help people to come to the golf courses and start playing golf, that's something that kind of completes me, makes me really happy. And what I like to say to them is -- well, that give golf a chance and never give up. I know -- I know if they try to, they will really enjoy themselves playing golf. Question: Sergio, what was the club at 16, please? Sergio Garcia: 6-iron. Question: Sergio, you've a pretty eventful year, already, low amateur at The Masters and winning your first European Tour event, what happened at The British Open, this, and you're going to play in the Ryder Cup obviously. Assess what you feel now and just how that has gone. Is it beyond your expectations to have this much go on so soon or were you expecting maybe to do some of this? Sergio Garcia: I was dreaming about that, not expecting. But it was one of my dreams for this year, turn pro -- well, first of all, play The Masters as an amateur, then turn pro, try to do well, win my first tournament this year and getting on the Ryder Cup Team. But I knew it was difficult. I was very young and -- well, there's a lot of great players around there. But it's probably a little over my expectations, but I really love it. I mean, I like the way it worked and even with a bad tournament at the British -- if you take me before the Irish Open and you tell me, okay, we'll give you a first place on the Irish Open, a second place at the Loch Lomond, and a second place at the PGA and miss the cut by 100 on The British Open -- at The British Open, I'd say "I'll take it. Well, if you give me that or you give me a 10th place or 12th place, another 10th, Top 10 on The British and 15th here, I'll go for the first one." Julius Mason: Sergio Garcia's taking odds, ladies and gentlemen. Question: Sergio, can you talk about the putt on 17. Did it not break the way you thought it or did you just pull it? Sergio Garcia: No, I hit a good putt, but the problem is the ball -- I think it bounced -- it kicked a little to the left on the edge of the green and, well, it was probably a pretty straight putt, but it made a big kick to the left also. And, well, after getting to the green the ball -- well, the putt didn't have a chance. Question: Sergio, do you have any plans on playing the Tour more or even full-time next year? And also what did Tiger -- what was the exchange between you and Tiger behind the 18th green after he won? Sergio Garcia: About The PGA, I'm not going to say anything before probably November or December. I want to enjoy what I have right now. I'm not going to say maybe because now I have the Ryder Cup and I have the NEC. I have the FedEx -- is it FedEx? Not the one in Valderrama. The Am Ex. Sorry, the American Express. And I have a lot of tournaments coming, and I want to enjoy that and when I'll finish, I'll tell you what I want to do. And between Tiger and me, nothing -- I just gave him a big hug and told him congratulations, well played, and he told me almost the same. He said to me that I played great and he was happy for me. Julius Mason: Ladies and gentlemen, Sergio will go through his card and we'll take a few more questions after that. Sergio Garcia: Well, the bogey on the 2nd, probably hit the wrong club. I was between a 6 and a 7. I tried to hit a smooth 6 and pull it way left since the first that I hit it, I knew it was in the water. So I dropped a 9-iron from the previous shot and put it like 12 feet. I made a good 4. Then on the 5th, I hit a great driver with a little draw. I hit my 3-iron a little fat, so I went to the bunker, and I made a great up-and-down from there, almost made it with -- on the sand shot. Q. How far was the putt? Sergio Garcia: The putt? I don't know. 1 foot. On 10th, I hit a great driver again. I got 3-wood, almost made the green, but it catched the side of the -- the left-hand side of the bunker and went in the bunker. Made a bunker shot from there, a great bunker shot. It was a pretty difficult one, up the hill and pretty long and put it like 6 feet and made it. And then on 13, I hit a great 6-iron, put it like -- I don't know -- 18 feet down the hill with a little break left-to-right and center cup. And well, the bogey on 15, hit it to the right with a 2-iron. Hit a great shot from there with a 7 just over the green. I left myself an impossible chip. Tried to do a flop shot. I did it very well but hit it probably 8 feet by and almost make it. Question: Sergio, many times when players come in second in major championships, they think about their missed opportunities and that stays with them for a while. I get the sense that's not going to stay with you for a while because you're more excited about what happened today. Sergio Garcia: You know what, I'm a little unhappy I didn't win, but inside of me I feel like I won. I don't know, with 19 years old, three months since I turned pro, you can't ask for any more. Question: Sergio, what's the worst thing that could have happened on the shot at 16? The shot from behind the tree, what was the worst case scenario there? Sergio Garcia: The worst thing probably hit the tree and hit myself and two strokes penalty. And I don't know, make 8, probably. But well I took the risk because -- I felt like I couldn't -- like I could do it, so I gave myself a chance. Question: Sergio, when you were growing up, what was the point at which you felt to yourself that you had a special talent for this game, that you were going to be that much better than almost anybody? Sergio Garcia: I don't think I am right now. I've played well some tournaments, but I haven't done anything yet to be, like you said, something -- somebody incredible or over some other players. I had four good tournaments, but still a long career to come and that's when I have to prove that I'm something else. Question: Sergio, is the shot at 16 the best one of your life or not so? Sergio Garcia: I'll put it on the top five. But I mean, I'm pretty -- I'm pretty happy because I find that playing with Seve, I've learned a lot playing with Seve, those kind of shots. He showed me how to -- well, not really showed me because it's something you can't teach, but seeing him doing those kind of shots, I learned a little how to do it and that helped me a lot. Question: Sergio, how many different clubs did you go through before you decided on the club that you hit there at 16? Looked like you were -- Sergio Garcia: No, I took the 5, and then I finally took the 6 because Jerry told me that "You have to carry 176 and that will put you in the green." Julius Mason: Ladies and gentlemen, you will see Sergio in September at the Ryder Cup Matches. Sergio. Thank you very much.
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