Sergio Garcia cannot wait to play in Ryder Cup after earning wildcard

Sport360 staff 01:30 06/09/2018
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  • Sergio Garcia is grateful for earn a spot on Europe's team

    Sergio Garcia has insisted he was right to jeopardise his Ryder Cup selection by missing the Made In Denmark tournament.

    Captain Thomas Bjorn named Garcia as one of his four European team wildcard picks on Wednesday, completing the 12-strong line-up to face America in Paris from September 28-30.

    Revealing his delight and relief at joining Paul Casey, Ian Poulter and Henrik Stenson as Europe’s wildcards, Garcia defended his decision to snub a chance for automatic qualification by sitting out the August 30 to September 2 Denmark tournament.

    The Spaniard believes he will arrive in Paris rested and ready to lock horns with the Americans in a way he would not have been able to had he shouldered more tournament golf in the build-up.

    “Unfortunately because of how the year went I had to play five weeks in a row in the summer, eight weeks out of 10 – and I’m not 25 any more, I’m 38,” said Garcia.

    “I knew I was putting my position at risk, but at the same time I told Thomas I want to get to the Ryder Cup at 100 per cent.

    “I don’t know how to play a Ryder Cup flat, and if I’m going to play a Ryder Cup flat I’m not going to help the team.

    “I need to rest for two weeks then play a little bit before that and get to Paris with the best chance possible.

    “He understood obviously, it didn’t make sense for me to play Denmark.

    “Unfortunately things didn’t work out the way I would have loved, I had to make some hard decisions, but we’re here now and able to focus on bringing as much as possible to the team.

    “To be able to be a part of a Ryder Cup team, it’s amazing, so I’m very proud; very thankful for being picked.

    “I’m thrilled and now want to help my team again to make sure we have the best possibility of winning the Ryder Cup back.”

    Garcia is the first European to win Ryder Cup selection having missed the cut at all four Majors in the season.

    Fellow wildcard pick Poulter backed Bjorn’s selection however, insisting: “If you look at the highlights of what Sergio has brought to the European Ryder Cup team through the years, that’s why he was obviously picked to join the team.

    “Incredible amounts of experience, a lot of points, an incredible amount of passion to the team.

    “It’s hard to explain to the rookies how they are going to feel and how big a stage the Ryder Cup really is. You definitely need guys like Sergio in the team who can help these guys to be able to feel comfortable.”

    Delighting in being back in the Ryder Cup team having acted as a vice-captain in defeat two years ago, Poulter said he is hungry for further success against America.

    “It’s really motivated me hugely; being vice captain last time was difficult,” said Poulter.

    “I enjoyed it just to be part of a Ryder Cup team still, that was pretty special.

    “But to be 200 in the world and looking at the Ryder Cup from afar, it was pretty motivating to get my game back in shape, play with some passion and reignite the fire to get back into this Ryder Cup team.

    “It’s been an amazing journey the last two years and one I’ve been very proud of to get back into this team.”

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