Sergio Garcia :: ‘I’ve had a great career’

• Sergio Garcia says he’s had ‘a great career’ so far
• Winning a major ‘not the most important thing’
• The Spaniard has finished runner-up at four majors

With a week to go until the first major of the year, world No.8 Sergio Garcia has claimed he’s had ‘a great career’ so far, despite never winning one of the big four tournaments in the game of golf.

The 35-year-old has recorded runner-up finishes twice at both the Open Championship in 2007 and 2014 and the US PGA Championship in 1999 and 2008, and revealed that his career shouldn’t be defined on his inability to win a major title.

Speaking ahead of the Shell Houston Open, the Sergio Garcia said: “Even though some people think the opposite, I think that I’ve had a great career. Obviously it all depends on who you’re compared with, but against the average, I think I’ve been very fortunate.

“I’m not saying that winning a major is not important but it’s not the most important thing in the world” – Sergio Garcia

“Not only some of my wins and Ryder Cups and things like that, but work I’ve done with my foundation and The First Tee are sometimes overlooked and people don’t realise how great it is to be able to help people that really need it.

“As you get older and more experienced, you realise the important things in life – I’m not saying that winning a major is not important but it’s not the most important thing in the world.”

While the closest Sergio Garcia has come to winning a major was at the Open Championship in 2007, where he lost out in a play-off to Padraig Harrington, the Spaniard missed out by just one shot to Tiger Woods at the 1999 US PGA Championship, aged just 19.

Speculation has been rife as to whether Woods will compete at Augusta and while admitting his appearance would be good for the game, said that the tournament would go on as normal without him.

Garcia, who has had his differences with the 14-time major winner in the past, said: “Every time that he plays it’s good; good for us and good for the game. It would be nice to see him play two or three weeks in a row, which doesn’t seem like he’s been able to do for quite some time now.

“But, at the end of the day, if he doesn’t play, it doesn’t mean the tournament is not going to go on and golf is over.

“We’ve got to realise that there’s going to be a point where there’s going to be no Tiger, no Phil, no Ernie Els, no Sergio Garcia, no Rory McIlroy, but there will be other guys coming up that will take the game to where it should be.”

And with the Masters looming, Garcia is determined to focus on the Shell Houston Open and says he won’t focus on Augusta until Sunday.

He said: “Obviously the Masters is in the backs of our minds but I’m here to play well, get some good rhythm, get in with a chance of winning this week and then as soon as Sunday finishes, I’ll concentrate on the Masters.

“I’m not going to be going out on the golf course this week thinking, ‘maybe I’ll try this shot because I’ll have it next week’ on the 12th or the 15th or something like that.

“I’m going to be focussed on what I want to achieve here and then when Sunday finishes, I can concentrate on next week.

Sergio Garcia tees off at 12.40pm local time (6.40pm UK time) alongside Matt Kuchar and Rickie Fowler.

The career of Sergio Garcia so far :: Your thoughts

Has Sergio Garcia had a great career? Or can that not be said until he wins a major? Leave your thoughts in the ‘Comments’ section below.