Eight years ago, I said Sergio Garcia was the one player who could take on Tiger Woods and be a genuine contender for the world number one position.

Throughout that time, I have had an awful lot of humble pie as Garcia failed to hit the heights predicted. His putting has been less than average and that is what has held him back.

There has never been any question about the rest of his game. He is the best driver in golf by a long way and because of that he plays most of his approach shots from the prime positions. His iron play has a crispness to it, a different sound of club on ball and his short irons are inventive.

Garcia: fine win

For the purists, Garcia's win at Sawgrass last Sunday was a triumph to be savoured and at just 28 years of age, Sergio may well reach the summit of the game in the years ahead.

It will be a huge relief for the Spaniard to have won for the first time in nearly three years, especially coming at one of the games' most respected courses.

Sawgrass demands golfing excellence and Garcia produced something very close to that. His sparkling display also saved a Championship that has suffered since its change of date to, in a way accommodate the newly formed Fed-Ex Cup.

Pete Dye's creation, formed in the early eighties, is essentially an American style golf course. By that I mean the course is played through the air.

Last week, it was the officials dream of having a fast and firm playing surface and because it is played six weeks later than in the past, that is achievable.

The trouble is that there are no run in areas and so many approaches are over water so its impossible as you can imagine to run the ball onto the green with that scenario.

As I said last week in this column, The Players used to be the curtain raiser for our golfing seasons worldwide. A superb prelude to the Masters and in March, the course was set up the way it was designed.

The 90 degree temperatures and the warm winds dried the course up quickly and although just over 7,000 yards, short by modern standards, only four players broke par.

Well done to them, but with so many negative shots down the stretch, totally understandable given the conditions, the magic of past years at Ponte Vedra was a distant memory.

Prestigious

Sergio will not be bothered about that and neither will Nick Faldo who will be a happy captain as this prestigious victory all but confirms the Spaniards place at Valhalla.

For his American counterpart, Paul Azinger, there was little to celebrate as I suspect with all due respect, Paul Goydos, Jeff Quinney and Briny Baird will have that week of September off.

It's Ireland that takes centre stage this week and with three consecutive Irish wins on tour in the last month, all roads point West to Limerick as the splendid Adare Manor gets ready for what could well be the best supported Irish Open for many a year.

Adare Manor was sold to the Kane family in 1987, who turned it into a luxurious hotel. Tom Kane is a golfing fanatic and its through his vision this magnificent 840 acre estate is host to the national championship.

An hour's drive from Shannon, it forms the perfect base to exploring the Rings of Kerry, the Killarney Lakes, Blarney Castle and other famous landmarks of this beautiful part of Ireland.

12 months ago, Ireland was looking for its first home winner since John O'Leary back in 1982. Padraig Harrington came up trumps at Adare last year and went on to become our first major champion since Scotland's Paul Lawrie eight years earlier.

With the wonderful victories of Damien McGrane and Darren Clarke in China, followed by Peter Lawrie's last gasp win in Seville, Irish golf has never enjoyed such a golden spell and thousands of their enthusiastic fans will cheer on their own in the hope the run continues.

Impressed

I have been impressed by the return to form of Paul McGinley. Two years without a top five finish is nowhere near good enough for a player of his class, but this year has seen some encouraging performances and has given reason to believe he is not far from his best.

His putting, like Garcia, has been his Achilles heel, but putting has much to do with confidence as anything. Many will hope he is in contention next Sunday and there would be no more popular winner.

Darren Clarke must continue his form if he is to push his way into the Ryder reckoning and the same can be said of Colin Montgomerie, a three time Irish Open winner.

The next few weeks on the European Tour will fashion the side we take to Valhalla and a good month from any player can change the shape of the season.

After Ireland, it's the prestigious BMW at Wentworth and the following week, Sky Sports viewers will get a look at the new 2010 course at Celtic Manor, venue for the next Ryder Cup to be played at home.

My thanks to reader Rory O'Sullivan for informing me that no Irish player was present last week in Milan where South African Hennie Otto celebrated his maiden victory.

Rory, I would love to say it was a deliberate mistake, but in all honesty, I can't. Four out of five wins however would be more than acceptable and we look forward to bringing you over 20 hours of live action from County Limerick starting on Thursday, with extensive highlights and analysis in Golf Night in the evening.

Enjoy the warm spring weather, twenty extra yards on the running fairways are more than welcome, no matter what age you are!.

back to top