Emotional Garcia reveals Covid-19 toll on family as he celebrates comeback win

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bruced
October 5, 2020

Sergio Garcia dedicated his victory at the Sanderson Farms Championship on Sunday to his loved ones as he revealed the coronavirus had taken a devastating toll on his family.

A closing 67 in Mississippi saw the Spaniard finish one stroke clear of Peter Malnati, who had set a challenging clubhouse target thanks to a scintillating 63 earlier in the day.

For Garcia, who has struggled with form in recent years despite one or two bright spots on the European Tour, the victory has been a long time coming.

“It’s pretty sweet. There’s no doubt,” he said.

“I was fortunate enough to win a couple times in Europe, so Azalea [Garcia’s daughter] could see it, but not Enzo [Garcia’s son].

“But now both Azalea and Enzo can see me win in the US, which is amazing. I don’t know if Enzo will recall it.

“But it’s great, obviously a lot of hard work, my whole family, Angela, Azalea, Enzo, my family in Spain. Everyone around, it’s been tough. I lost two uncles to Covid, so it’s been tough on my dad.

“This one was for them,” the Spaniard added as he fought back tears.

Garcia recorded just one top-10 finish on the PGA Tour last season as he dropped outside the world’s top 50.

Asked how he turned things around, he said: “Keep believing. Keep working hard. Keep your mind right. My whole team has been behind me trying to help me in anyway they can.

“I’ve also been able to find a couple things here and there that obviously have helped.

“It feels great to stand there on 18 to rip a nice draw and hit an 8-iron and make a putt.”

PGA Tour Sergio Garcia