Sergio García had been inside Butler Cabin before. In 1999, having earned a place in the Masters field as the reigning British Amateur champion and now the lowest-scoring amateur, he was invited to the post-tournament ceremony with José María Olazábal, who had just won his second US Masters title (his first came in 1994).
García recalled walking away thinking he would one day have his own coveted green jacket as the champion at Augusta National. Most observers at the time would have agreed. Then the doubts started creeping in.
Only twice in his first 18 starts did he start the final round inside the top 10, then five years ago he told Spanish reporters it would never happen for him. Not only would he not win the Masters, he said he’d never win a major – that the golf gods were against him and bad luck was thwarting him.
He argued that his life would be no different, that crossing his name off the best-to-never-win-a-major list would not define his happiness. But few believed him. Along the way he had famously finished second behind Tiger Woods in the 1999 US PGA Championship at Medinah, and suffered the agony of three other runner-up places in majors: the 2007 British Open championship (when he lost to Padraig Harrington in a play-off) and 2014, and the 2008 US PGA Championship.
“When I came here in 1999 as an amateur, I felt like this course was probably going to give me at least one major,” he said before receiving the 2017 green jacket from last year’s winner Danny Willett. “I'm not going to lie, that thought kind of changed a little bit through the years, because I started feeling uncomfortable on the course. But I kind of came to peace with it the last three or four years, and I accepted what Augusta gives and takes. And I think because of that, I'm able to stand here today… Been a long time coming. It's been an amazing week, and I'm going to enjoy it for the rest of my life.”
On Wednesday, Olazábal had sent García a message telling him how much he believed in his compatriot. “And what I needed to do. And just pretty much believe in myself.” He also mentioned he was not sharing his champion’s locker at Augusta National with anybody. “I hope that I get to do it with you,” Olazábal told García.
The other Spanish winner at Augusta, Seve Ballesteros, who died in 2011 of brain cancer, would have turned 60 on Sunday. García said he felt the presence of the two-time Masters winner (1980 and 1983) several times during the week. Clearly it had a calming influence, because García said he never felt so calm on a major Sunday.
“To do it on Seve’s 60th birthday and to join him and Olazábal, my two idols in golf my whole life, it's something amazing.”
No one had ever played more majors as a pro (70) before winning one for the first time – and finally banishing their demons. Both he and Justin Rose – his playing partner in the last group – had closed with three-under 69s after a topsy-turvy back nine to finish level and set up a nerve-wracking play-off.
On the first hole of sudden-death Rose sent his drive into the trees on the 18th hole, punched out and failed to save par from five metres. That gave the García two putts from four metres for the victory, and his first putt swirled into the cup for a birdie. He crouched in disbelief, both fists clenched and shaking, and he shouted above the loudest roar of the day.
Rose, winner of the 2013 US Open and last year’s Olympic golf tournament, graciously patted García's cheek before they embraced. Rose then tapped García on the heart. "Ser-gee-oh! Ser-gee-oh!" the gallery chanted to García. He turned with his arms to his side, blew a kiss to the crowd and then crouched again and slammed his fist into the turf of the green.
"If there's anyone to lose to, it's Sergio. He deserves it," said Rose. "He's had his fair share of heartbreak… Often he feels like he’s not supported the way he would like to be here in America. It was encouraging to see the crowd get behind him. I think they realised he paid his dues.”
In July, the 37-year-old García will be married to his Texas-based fiancée, Angela Akins, who during Masters week had left notes of inspiration and love on the mirror at their rental place.
“I have a beautiful life,” García said. “Major or no major, I’ve said it many, many times. I have an amazing life. I don’t know if I’ll be the best player to have only won one major,” he joked. “But I can live with that.”
