Golf: Garcia shakes off Ryder woe for title defense

MIAMI -- Sergio Garcia hopes to put the disappointment of Europe's Ryder Cup defeat behind him when he launches the defense of his PGA Tour Sanderson Farms Championship title in Mississippi on Thursday.

The 41-year-old Spaniard is the only player involved in last week's Ryder Cup in the field for the tournament in Jackson, and says that despite a grueling week in Wisconsin, his energy levels is good.

Garcia was one of the lone bright spots in Europe's 19-9 mauling by the US at Whistling Straits, winning three of his four games.

Despite the traumatic scale of the Europe loss, Garcia said Wednesday he has already been able to put the defeat into perspective.

"I've been fortunate to play many Ryder Cups and win many and also lose some," Garcia said. "We just got outplayed. It's as simple as that."

"They played better than us and we gave it everything we had. So we can't really ask ourselves for more.

"Obviously we would have loved to do a little bit better and probably be a little bit sharper on those key moments where they were sharp and we were just a little bit off and they took advantage of that.

"But other than that it's fine. I think the way I look at it there were so many positive things coming out of it, even though we lost, that you just got to look at those things."

Garcia said he had not slept much on Sunday after the defeat, but had managed to rest at his home in Austin.

"I feel pretty good at the moment," he said. "Obviously you all know how much I love the Ryder Cup and there's a lot of energy involved in it and that you put on it and stuff. I still love it every time I play it.

"At the moment I feel quite good. I don't think it has hit me yet and hopefully it won't hit me until I get back to Austin next week so I can have a good solid week here."

While other players involved at Whistling Straits have opted for a break this week, Garcia said he was determined to tee it up in Mississippi to defend his title.

"I try to defend my titles every time I can. I haven't been able to do it every single time, but I love to do it every possibility I have," he said.

Agence France-Presse

Golf: Jason Day makes Masters cut, but just barely

Jason Day has proven to be one of those players who seem predestined to wear the Green Jacket one day.

It appears he has to wait for that moment a little while longer.

The Australian world No. 3, whose career is closely followed by many Filipinos because of his parental roots in Leyte, couldn't get his game going in Day 2 of the Masters on Friday, finishing with 5 bogeys and a double bogey for a 76, and barely hanging on for a spot in the weekend rounds.

After 2 rounds, Day is at 6-over 150, tied for 45th place with 8 others.

He is 10 shots off the lowest score, held currently by 4 people -- Americans Charley Hoffman and Rickie Fowler, Thomas Pieters of Belgium and Sergio Garcia, the Spaniard who is the sentimental favorite to win the title.

According to Golf Channel, Day came into Augusta National aware that he wouldn't be at 100%.

In the lead-up to the Masters, Day spent time taking care of his mother Dening, who is battling lung cancer.

 Garcia, winless in 73 major starts, joined Fowler, Hoffman and Pieters in the biggest 36-hole Masters leader logjam since 1973.

A second day of high winds left the top pack -- all seeking a first major win -- level on 4-under par 140 through two rounds.

"It was going to be try and hang on and make sure you didn't play yourself out of the tournament with scoring conditions coming this weekend," Fowler said.

A host of big names -- including second-ranked Rory McIlroy, reigning Olympic champion Justin Rose and past Masters winners Adam Scott, Phil Mickelson and Jordan Spieth -- lurk within five strokes, setting up a mouth-watering weekend showdown in calmer conditions.

"I'm excited about the challenges that this weekend is going to bring, and hopefully I'll step up to them and I'll be able to be up there on Sunday with a solid chance at winning," Garcia said.

Not since a storm-struck Masters 44 years ago ended in a Monday finish had so many people shared the midway lead.

Garcia, who hopes to end his major drought Sunday on what would have been the 60th birthday of the late icon Seve Ballesteros, opened with three birdies and played even from there to stake his claim to the top.

"These first two rounds are probably the best I've ever played at Augusta," Garcia said. "I feel like I played great. I made a lot of great putts.

(With a report from Agence France-Presse)

source: news.abs-cbn.com