Yahoo Finance Sergio García opens with 66 at Dubai Desert Classic to raise Ryder Cup hopes
Eyebrows may have been raised on the eve of the Dubai Desert Classic as Padraig Harrington, Europe’s Ryder Cup captain, asserted he never worries about the form of Sergio García. The Spaniard arrived in the Middle East when 27th in the rankings that will determine Harrington’s 12-man team for Whistling Straits in September.
García was of a mind to back up Harrington’s public confidence. An opening, bogey-free round of 66 continued his love affair with the Emirates Club. This marked the 11th time Garcia has shot 67 or better there. The 41-year-old outscored Collin Morikawa, his playing partner and US PGA champion, by five. García first made a cut on the European Tour aged 15, two years before Morikawa was born.
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“The desire’s still there,” said García. “We’re still competitors. Don’t get me wrong, I really enjoyed playing with Collin but my focus, it’s a little bit different than it was back at his age, with family, getting married and having kids and stuff. But that doesn’t mean that I’m not a competitor. I still love to compete. I love to practise, try to get better and that’s what I try to do all the time. So it’s nice to see rounds like one today, because it shows that I’m putting some good work in there and [I’ve] just got to keep doing more of that.”
With an obvious Ryder Cup glance, he said: “I’m a lot happier with the equipment that I have now because I feel like I can shape shots and I can do a little bit more than what I used to do. That has been a process, a building process when it comes down to confidence and I’m very happy to see where I’m heading.
“It’s a big year and hopefully I can be in good shape because I want to be a part of a lot of things this year.”
Paul Casey birdied his first four holes en route to a 67. “We are very lucky that we’re playing,” he said. “I feel that I’m going to take advantage of that and, while I’m out here, make hay.”
The South African Richard Sterne claimed the early lead courtesy of a 64. Kurt Kitayama of the US is a shot behind, with Sterne’s compatriot Justin Harding alongside García at minus six.
