AUGUSTA, Ga. — Throughout the first nine holes of Sunday’s final round at the Masters, Sergio García was greeted with thunderous applause from the grandstands. Just 15 years ago, when he was perceived as precocious but persnickety, he was ridiculed by crowds at American major golf championships. But now García, 37, was a fan favorite.
He had the empathy of the galleries because they knew the 18 holes of Augusta National Golf Club had grown to be his personal house of horrors. Before this year, García had contended for the Masters title six times and never finished higher than eighth.