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FOLLOW
Sergio García as European captain in the Ryder Cup is something that anyone who regularly follows this sport could more or less assume would happen at some point. Until Borriol decided to change the PGA for the LIV. Since then, what was a consensus figure has become polarizing.
In the heat of the European victory two weeks ago in Rome, there was a certain campaign on social networks proposing him as captain of the Old Continent for 2025. A good idea or not depending on who you ask.
Sergio Garcia, statements
Important in this matter may be the opinion of a guy like the Englishman Justin Rose, who is in Madrid this week to play the Spanish Open.
Rose has a good relationship with Sergio, perhaps the type of camaraderie that is forged with someone who has taken the Augusta Masters from you in a playoff, as the Castellón native took it from the Englishman in 2016, or with someone with whom you have shared a team in five Ryders.
But Rosie, as she is affectionately known, is not sure that she is the ideal profile, at least for two years from now. “I am sure that there are many people who believe that he would be a good captain, also that no one wants to be captain in Bethpage (host of the event in 2025, and one that will be particularly hostile, due to the famous aggressiveness of the New York fans, for Europe) .
It will be hard. It’s difficult right now. I give credit to Sergio for the messages he sent to the team during the last Ryder. But I think right now he lacks ties with some players, it’s difficult to stay connected when you’re not on the same circuit.
He certainly deserves it, based on his career, but I don’t know if he would be the best captain,” Justin commented on the possibility, ensuring that we will clear up doubts “in a few months.” Another option, much in demand, is for his compatriot Luke Donald, whose strategy in Rome has been praised, to repeat.
Rose is the big attraction of the Spanish Open beyond Jon Rahm. A true US Open champion (2013, in Merion), who after a few years of anxiety, which cost him his presence in the 2021 Ryder, has returned to the elite. He won earlier this year at Pebble Beach, one of the PGA’s most important regular stops, and has added three more top-10s, including a top-6 at The Players.
He did not manage to get into the final of the circuit, but he did get into the European team for Marco Simone, of which he was one of the spiritual leaders. His putt on 18 to tie his match in the fourballs on Friday, that explosion of rage and that gesture towards his teammates, pointing at them one by one while shouting ‘for you’, ‘for you’, ‘for you’, were the moment Jon Rahm’s favorite in this edition, the Basque confessed at an event on Monday.
“It’s very kind of Jon. It’s one of those moments that had to be great. It could have been the last putt of the day, the entire team was on the green and it had a lot of meaning. Putting it in meant that the Americans didn’t win a game that day.
It’s something I’ve seen over the years, it was my moment and I decided to enjoy it, but first I had to get into it. You never know what your reaction is going to be, you don’t plan it, and as soon as the putt went in I turned to them and pointed.
“Everyone worked very hard that day and I’m glad it ended that way,” Rose picked up the glove. The native of Johannesburg (South Africa), who moved to Hampshire when he was five, believes that the Open has “all the right ingredients” to gain weight in the European Tour organization chart in the future.
“It is a field connected to the city, with great views, and with a Spanish, undulating style. It’s exactly what you want for a tournament like this. The vibes are very good and it is very well prepared to welcome the public.
I think that in the future there may be a very good field (participation). The most important thing is to have a good date. Calendar placement is a good opportunity, they just need organic growth. All the ingredients are correct,” he states.
If more golfers of his level attend (other top Europeans present are the Frenchman Victor Perez or the Englishman Alex Fitzpatrick, Matt’s brother), it will be easier.
