Garcia looks for second wind ahead of Turnberry challenge
Sergio Garcia, the co-designer of the Wind course at Jumeirah Golf Estates, is looking for a return to form at The European Open this week and has one eye already on the 138th Open Championship at Turnberry.
The world’s oldest Open championship is the Major Garcia wants most in his trophy cabinet and the Spaniard is looking for a good run of form to take to Turnberry, which will host The Open for the third time from July 16-19.
“Every time I get to a British Open, I dream about the Claret Jug,” said Garcia. “I’ve always said it; The Open is my favourite Major. So I love it, I try to play the best that I can, and I’ve been fortunate enough to have two or three good chances at it.”
Leisurecorp took ownership of Turnberry in October 2008 and immediately shut the Ailsa course to begin a programme of enhancements to ensure impeccable conditions come July 16. These include 7 new Championship tees which have added a total of 247 yards to increase the total yardage from 6,957 yards to 7,204 yards. In addition, 22 new bunkers have been built which will force the players to take a more strategic approach to playing the course – especially tee shots.
After a recent visit to Turnberry, World Number 4 Garcia believes the Ailsa course is in great shape and will provide a fitting test for the world’s finest golfers.
“The course is looking very good. It’s in very nice shape and green,” he said. “The rough is quite thick; there are some spots where if you hit it, you’re going to struggle. Obviously you’re definitely struggling to get it to the green, but you’re going to struggle to get it 50 or 60 yards.”
The most significant change has been to the 16th fairway which has been realigned to the left to change the angle of the second shot into the green and test players further. This change was made after the course closure, so no player has played the hole competitively since the enhancements.
“16 is definitely different; it’s a lot more of a dogleg,” said Garcia. “You also have the tee back on 10 and 3, and a few others. It’s been 13 years, so you have to expect to see some changes. But I thought the course was nice. I liked it, so I’m looking forward to going there and hopefully doing well.”
Garcia, who has played the Ailsa course competitively just once before at the 1996 British Amateur Championship, believes the weather will play a major part in whom finally lifts the Claret Jug.
“I think the weather is going to depend a lot on the scoring there, like I guess every British Open, but I definitely feel like if we get good weather, the scoring is going to be quite low,” he said. “I don’t think the greens are as severe as some of the links might be.
The bunkering around the greens maybe not as difficult as maybe some other links courses.
“We are also closer to the water, so there is not much protection on wind and it can probably get quite windy there. We will see. It all depends on how firm it plays too, and all those things.”
US star Ben Curtis was also looking forward to playing a golf course that is steeped in history and played host to some of the great Open battles, including the legendary ‘Duel in the Sun’ in 1977 between Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson; Greg Norman’s taming of the elements on his way to victory in 1986, and Nick Price’s 50-foot eagle putt on 17 to triumph in 1994.
“I just remember what I’ve seen on TV, but obviously that was ’94,” said the current World Number 30. ”The course is probably going to change, and it’s a lot different when you get there than when you see it on TV, as well.
“Any time you go to a new course, like this week playing here, it’s a lot of fun to see the different courses. It takes a little time to know it. Obviously for Turnberry, I’ll probably play it two or three times before the event starts, so I have a pretty good idea what I need to do. It’s always interesting. I love links golf, you’ve got to hit every shot in the book, and that makes it fun.”
