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After four runner-up finishes at majors, the Spaniard ended
close to two decades of heartbreak on Sunday at Augusta, beating
England’s Justin Rose in a playoff.
"It's better late than never," Garcia joked in an interview with
Radio Marca. "I have to continue on the same path. I hope this
is not the last."
"The Masters is like the Champions League (Europe’s biggest
football club competition), but the British Open is like the
Champions’ Champions League."
Garcia played in 74 majors before finally winning one.
Triumph finally came after his 12-foot birdie putt at the first
extra hole on Augusta's par-four 18th.
"I hit it where I wanted to," he said. "I didn't ask my caddie's
opinion because the putt fell towards the left.
"In the five previous holes I had struck the ball very well. I
knew there was the possibility of making a birdie in the
playoff."
Garcia’s victory came on what would have been the 60th birthday
of his late hero Severiano Ballesteros, who died of brain cancer
in 2011. Another idol, Jose Maria Olazabal, also won at Augusta.
"I dedicated the victory to Severiano. I was able to win in the
same place that my two idols had done."
"Olazabal sent me a very nice message in which he told me that
he loved me and that I should have a lot of confidence in
myself."
(Editing by Richard Lough)
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