Sergio Garcia seeks redemption as he takes on Blue Monster in LIV golf event this weekend
Sergio Garcia came so close to winning the individual title at LIV Golf Miami last year.
Garcia started the final round at Trump National Doral leading by two strokes and was ahead by one heading into the notoriously tough par-4, 468-yard 18th hole.
He bogeyed there, missing a 7-foot par putt to win, and ultimately lost to Dean Burmester in two sudden death playoff holes.
The 45-year-old Spaniard returns to the famed Blue Monster this weekend poised to capture the tournament he couldn’t close out in 2024. He’s certainly one of the favorites in the 54-player field, which features 13 teams of four players each and two independent wild card players. The young squad Garcia captains is on an unprecedented hot streak.
Fireball GC, which includes 22-year-old Luis Masaveu and 23-year-old David Puig, as well as Abraham Ancer, enters Miami atop the team points standings and seeking a fourth consecutive tournament title after wins at Adelaide, Hong Kong and Singapore.
The Fireballs’ three-tournament win streak is the longest since LIV Golf expanded to its full 14-event schedule in 2023. South Florida is the fifth stop on the tour, which bills itself as “Golf, but Louder.” Speakers strategically placed around the course blast music throughout the three rounds, creating an atmosphere in sharp contrast to the PGA Tour.
Garcia, the league leader in fairways hit this season, carded a 7-under 63 in the final round in Hong Kong to claim the individual title. How will he manage Trump National starting today?
“It’s just a solid golf course, a ball striker’s golf course,” Garcia said before Wednesday’s practice round. “Obviously, I was fortunate enough to play well last year, lost in a playoff, but it’s the kind of golf course that if you drive the ball well, you can be fairly aggressive in some of these pin positions. If you struggle a little bit off the tee, then even if you’re just missing the fairway — you don’t have to miss it by much out of this rough — it becomes tricky. … Overall, it’s a wonderful test to try to get your game in as good a shape as possible going into next week.”
The Masters at Augusta National, which starts next Thursday, will be Garcia’s 100th career major.
“It just shows — the same with Phil [Mickelson] — the quality and consistency we’ve had throughout our careers,” Garcia said. “Not a lot of people have been able to get over the 100-major mark, so it’s an honor and something I’m super proud of.”
Players on the LIV Tour who’ll compete at The Masters, view this weekend’s tournament as a crucial lead-up to one of the PGA’s four major championships. Trump National is the first golf course to host a LIV tournament in each of the tour’s first four seasons and has been home to some fun moments.
“Well, Brooks [Koepka] handed me a drink on 9 [once],” recalled Bryson DeChambeau, who captains Crushers GC.
“I mean, look, Miami is fun,” added Koepka, Smash GC’s captain. “We’ve always had good fans, even when we were out here 10 years ago on the [PGA] Tour. It’s always a good fan base.”
LIV Golf Miami has resonated with local fans. According to tournament officials, 70 percent of last year’s attendees were from within 50 miles of the course. Saturday’s second round could draw an especially large crowd — Sublime is scheduled to perform on the Fan Village stage at about 5 p.m. A Saturday ticket includes entry to the concert.
Tournament week started Monday with RangeGoats GC captain Bubba Watson throwing the ceremonial first pitch before the Marlins’ game against the Mets at loanDepot park. On Thursday, President Donald Trump was scheduled to arrive at Trump National at 4:55 p.m. to attend the LIV Dinner from 7:30 to 9 prior to departing for Mar-a-Lago.
As for this weekend’s action, you can expect Jon Rahm to be in the mix for the individual title. Rahm, whose team, Legion XIII, won the team title at last year’s LIV Golf Miami, has never finished outside the top 10 in his 16 completed LIV events and has shot 21 consecutive rounds under par, a new league record.
“I’ve had good finishes, but haven’t played my best,” Rahm said. “I’ve scored well despite some discomfort in my game that I need to overcome for bigger goals, especially majors. I think I’m close, if not there.
“Lately, I’ve been playing really well and feeling comfortable. Augusta and the Blue Monster are another level, but this week is great prep for a major. I’m looking forward to seeing improvements and entering next week with a clear mind.”
DeChambeau, who finished tied for seventh at LIV Golf Miami last year, is one of the biggest hitters in golf. That could benefit him on the Blue Monster, which is one of the longest courses on LIV’s schedule.
“The wind is going to swirl. You’re going to be thrown some weird obstacles and some interesting putts,” DeChambeau said. “It’s really about playing a strategic game out there and getting yourself into position to make birdies and getting yourself a chance to win come that last nine holes of the tournament. It’s a big patience game for me.”