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LONDON: Sergio Garcia, having created his share of
Spanish sporting success on Friday with a second round 64 in the
European Open, headed off from the London Club course in Kent,
south-east of London, to witness another as compatriot Rafael Nadal
won through to the Wimbledon final.
Garcia’s round ultimately left
him four shots behind leader Ross Ford after the Englishman backed
up his course record 63 with a four under par 68.
Should Garcia and Nadal, who has
already won the French Open this year, both triumph this Sunday it
would be a cause for yet more rejoicing in Spain after their
football team beat Germany in the final of Euro 2008.
Garcia got to know Nadal in
Majorca last October, playing golf and tennis in a pro-am.
“It was awesome playing tennis
with him,” said the 28-year-old Garcia.
“He was quite impressed with my
game and I was impressed with his golf.
“Rafa and I send messages to
each other and I’m sure he will be happy about my round.”
Meanwhile Fisher was pleased by
the way in which he’d cemented his position. “After a 63 you
just want to show people that it wasn’t a fluke and I’m pretty
pleased with that.
“I didn’t feel entirely
comfortable with my swing, but I almost felt - it almost sounds
funny - I was in the zone a little bit. I was just walking around
with a tremendous amount of calmness and peacefulness in myself.”
Garcia, regarded as one of the
best current golfers yet to win a Major, played the first nine holes
in just 32 shots but was even more impressive over the closing nine
in what was his first tournament in the UK since he lost a play-off
for last year’s British Open to Padraig Harrington.
But having won the Players
Championship in Florida in May, he is among the favourites for the
2008 Open at Royal Birkdale later this month in the absence through
injury of Tiger Woods.
--AFP
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