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Sergio Garcia was still worried he wouldn’t make Europe’s Ryder Cup team even after 10 appearances and record point haul

, Sergio Garcia was still worried he wouldn’t make Europe’s Ryder Cup team even after 10 appearances and record point haul

SERGIO GARCIA still gets too anxious to eat when he is sweating on a Ryder Cup wild card – even after ten appearances for Europe and a record 25-and-a-half points in the bag.

Garcia says he was a ‘bag of nerves’ as he waited for Padraig Harrington to call him and confirm he was on the team, despite the fact he was widely regarded as a certainty for a captain’s pick.

Sergio Garcia is looking forward to this year’s Ryder Cup

The Spanish star even began to wonder whether he was right to sidestep the final qualifying event, the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth.

He had decided it would do more harm than good if he flew over after competing in the Tour Championship a week earlier, but started to second guess that decision as he waited with wife Angela at their Texas home.

Garcia, 41, explained: “I’m not going to lie, I do spend a lot of time worrying about whether the wild card is going to happen, for sure. 

“I had a few chats with Padraig and one of his assistants, Luke Donald, and they tell you that you look good for a pick.

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“But when it came down to the last few moments it was around the time Angela and I were fixing to have lunch – and I was too worried to eat.

“I was looking at the clock and at the phone every two or three minutes wondering when the call was going to come. 

 

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“I did worry a little bit, because you can never tackle anything for granted. And you know that what happens in the days and weeks running up to the final choice can change things. 

“The beautiful thing about qualifying on your own is that you don’t have to go through that, although I must say it was probably worse before Paris because there was a lot of speculation that I wouldn’t get a pick. 

“But when you do get that call, it makes it a little bit sweeter.”

Garcia’s stress levels grew as he realised 2019 Open champion Shane Lowry would also need a wild card after being bumped out of the team at the last minute by Bernd Wiesberger.

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He added: “I think Padraig and his vice captains had a good idea what they wanted to do for quite a while.

“But like I said, things can change – as you saw with the automatic places, with Shane getting knocked out by Bernd, and then needing a pick.

The Spaniard is a six-time Ryder Cup winner

“Justin Rose played great and he was a big part of the conversation. Alex Noren has been playing terrific golf, especially in the last month, so he threw his hat in the ring as well.

“And probably Henrik Stenson too because he was showing good form at the right time. So it was a little bit uncertain. But thankfully it all worked out.”

Garcia played well in Atlanta. He was only denied a second successive top ten finish in the play-offs because of the handicap system that saw him start ten shots behind eventual winner Patrick Cantlay – and give shots to all but four of his rivals.

But it was still encouraging to see the 2017 Masters champion bagging plenty of birdies.

He commented: “I don’t know if this is the best I’ve played in the build-up, but it’s certainly up there. 

“I think the very best was in 2008, when I was coming off an amazing year. But unfortunately I got sick the week before, and that kind of drained me going into the Ryder Cup. I just didn’t have the energy that I wanted to have.

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, Sergio Garcia was still worried he wouldn’t make Europe’s Ryder Cup team even after 10 appearances and record point haul

Ian Poulter is also part of Team Europe at Whistling Straights

“And to be perfectly honest, that’s why I took the gamble of not playing at Wentworth. I felt like at 41 – and as Padraig kindly pointed out – I’m not getting any younger! I didn’t want to travel so much, and play four weeks in a row.

“I would rather take the chance that I would be picked and get to the Ryder Cup with the batteries full on and ready to do what I know I can do. Not just for myself but for the team. 

“I have always said it. I love that team room. You can’t believe how excited I get to be a part of that, to joke with the guys, to get to know the new boys and to put my arm around some of the rookies – and even the non-rookies. 

“We all need a little lift at times, no matter how often we’ve been through this. Whoever needs a hug will get one. 

“That includes me, because other players will open up to me and maybe just give you a little punch on the shoulder to say, ‘Hey, it’s alright – we’re in this together.’

“Those things mean so much. That’s the main reason why I love the Ryder Cup so much. And I’m super-excited to be playing in another one.”

, Sergio Garcia was still worried he wouldn’t make Europe’s Ryder Cup team even after 10 appearances and record point haul

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