Sergio Garcia expects thrilling Masters with world's best in excellent form
"I think that this year it feels like you probably have eight to ten guys that are in good form, with a really good, solid chance of winning"
Tuesday 3 April 2018 18:21, UK
Sergio Garcia believes this year's Masters could be one of the most exciting in recent memory as the Spaniard defends his Green Jacket at Augusta National, with several of the world's best golfers in good form.
The 38-year-old captured his maiden major at the prestigious course in Georgia last year and will hope to make a strong defence, with much of the pre-event attention focused on the return to prominence of Tiger Woods.
Garcia reached the last-16 at the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play in Austin on his last tournament appearance and enjoyed an encouraging fourth-placed finish at the Valspar Championship last month.
"I think that this year it feels like you probably have eight to ten guys that are in good form, with a really good, solid chance of winning," Garcia said.
"So it's kind of interesting to see how the week goes on, because every week it's a different story, but at the moment it is quite exciting."
Garcia, who will partner Justin Thomas and amateur Doc Redman during the opening two rounds, could become only the fourth back-to-back champion of the Masters and the Spaniard was pragmatic in his explanation of why the event is so difficult to successfully defend.
"The simple answer is it's just difficult to win. It doesn't matter if it's back to back or just one," he said. "People don't realise how difficult it is to win any tournament, and a major is even tougher. At Augusta and the Masters, it's even more difficult.
"It's not easy to do it one time, so imagine twice. Especially back to back. It doesn't mean that I'm not going to give it my best shot and I'm going to try as hard as I can, but it's not easy to do it.
"I feel like my game is quite solid. I'm obviously coming off three good tournaments but every week is different and it's just a matter of how I'm going to feel on Thursday, how the nerves are going to be."
Garcia will host the traditional Champions Dinner on Tuesday evening and admits his preparations for the opening major have been unlike regular tour events, but added he is ready for a "special" week.
"It is a different feeling [from other tournaments]," Garcia said. "It's easy to come here and say, I'm just treating it like any other tournament but it's a major and because of that they are different. Augusta is even more different and more spectacular.
"That's the way you want to look at it, but when you go out there you know that it's going to be a special week, and this week for me it's even more special because I'm the defending champion.
"I'm really enjoying the experience and hoping to put some good golf out there and over the weekend."
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