Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Sergio García

Discover the career path of Sergio García, from the first major opportunity to industry-changing achievements.

Sergio García Fernández is a Spanish professional golfer who turned professional in 1999. He has played on the European Tour and PGA Tour and joined LIV Golf in 2022. Throughout his career, García has achieved 36 international tournament wins, with his most prominent victories being the 2008 Players Championship and the 2017 Masters Tournament, a major championship. Beyond golf, García served as the Chairman of the Spanish football team CF Borriol.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles

1995: Youngest Cut

In 1995, Sergio García set a record as the youngest player to make the cut at a European Tour event, the Turespaña Open Mediterrania.

1996: European Boys' Team Championship

In 1996, Sergio Garcia was part of the Spanish team that won the European Boys' Team Championship.

1997: European Boys' Team Championship

In 1997, Sergio Garcia was part of the Spanish team that won the European Boys' Team Championship.

1997: Boys Amateur Championship Win

In 1997, Sergio García won the Boys Amateur Championship and the Catalan Open, as an amateur.

1998: Wins The Amateur Championship

In 1998, Sergio García won The Amateur Championship at Muirfield and reached the semi-finals of the U.S. Amateur. He also finished second in the 1998 Argentine Open, being the low amateur, and winning the Pereira Iraola Cup.

July 1999: Irish Open Win

In July 1999, Sergio García secured his first title on the European Tour at the Irish Open in his sixth start as a professional.

1999: Turned Professional

In 1999, Sergio García turned professional after the Masters Tournament and won his first European Tour title at the Irish Open in July 1999. He gained worldwide prominence with a duel against Tiger Woods in the 1999 PGA Championship, finishing second.

1999: Ryder Cup Team Member

Since 1999, Sergio García has been a member of every European Ryder Cup team, except for 2010 and 2023.

2001: First PGA Tour Event Win

In 2001, At the age of 21, Sergio García won his first PGA Tour event at the MasterCard Colonial and the Buick Classic.

2002: Mercedes Championships Win

In 2002, Sergio García won the Mercedes Championships in early January.

2002: Albatross at the Masters

In 2002, during a practice round, Sergio García made an albatross (double eagle) on the par-5 second hole at the Masters, holing a 253-yard 2-iron after a 325-yard drive.

2004: EDS Byron Nelson Championship Win

In 2004, Sergio García won the EDS Byron Nelson Championship and the Buick Classic for the second time.

2005: Booz Allen Classic Victory

In 2005, Sergio García secured his sixth PGA Tour victory at the Booz Allen Classic.

2006: Ryder Cup Wins

In the 2006 Ryder Cup, Sergio García won his fourball and foursome matches on day one and paired with Olazábal to win both matches on day two. Europe won the cup with 18½ points to the United States' 9½ points.

2007: Open Championship

At the 2007 Open Championship, Sergio García narrowly missed winning his first professional major championship, finishing two strokes behind Pádraig Harrington at the 2008 PGA Championship

2007: 54-hole Lead at The Open Championship

In 2007, Sergio García had his first career 54-hole lead at a major championship, The Open Championship.

May 2008: The Players Championship Win

On May 11, 2008, Sergio García won The Players Championship on the PGA Tour in a sudden-death playoff against Paul Goydos.

October 2008: Castelló Masters Win

On October 26, 2008, Sergio García won his first European Tour title in over three years at the Castelló Masters Costa Azahar. He dedicated the victory to compatriot Seve Ballesteros and rose to a career-high third in the Official World Golf Rankings.

November 2008: Highest Career Ranking

In November 2008, after winning the HSBC Champions tournament, Sergio García reached his highest career ranking, second in the world.

November 2008: HSBC Champions Win

On November 9, 2008, Sergio García won the HSBC Champions, rising to a career-high second in the Official World Golf Rankings.

2008: Successful Season

After his success in 2008, García had a very disappointing season in 2009, rarely contending and finishing ranked 74th on the PGA Tour money list.

2008: PGA Championship

At the 2008 PGA Championship, Sergio García narrowly missed winning his first professional major championship, finishing two strokes behind Pádraig Harrington.

2008: Won The Players Championship

In 2008, Sergio García notably won The Players Championship.

2009: Disappointing Season

After his success in 2008, García had a very disappointing season in 2009, rarely contending and finishing ranked 74th on the PGA Tour money list.

2009: HSBC Champions Win

On November 9, 2008, Sergio García won the HSBC Champions, the opening event on the 2009 European Tour season.

August 2010: Ryder Cup Vice Captain

On August 29, 2010, European captain Colin Montgomerie announced that García would be his fourth vice captain for the 2010 Ryder Cup.

2010: Return to Play

In late 2010, Sergio García returned to competitive play with a new putting grip, leading to better results on the greens.

2010: Ryder Cup Absence

Sergio García did not participate in the 2010 Ryder Cup.

June 2011: Loss at BMW International Open

In June 2011, Sergio García lost to Pablo Larrazábal at the fifth sudden-death playoff hole at the BMW International Open, failing to break his winless streak since 2008. García's impressive performance, including birdies and eagles, was offset by bogeys, leading to the playoff and eventual loss.

October 2011: Wins at Castelló and Andalucía Masters

In October 2011, Sergio García ended a three-year title drought with consecutive wins in his home country. He won the Castelló Masters with a score of 27-under-par, 11 strokes ahead of the field. Following that, García won the Andalucía Masters, dedicating the Castelló Masters win to Seve Ballesteros, stating "That was for Seve."

2011: Fading on the Weekend

In 2011, Sergio García was near the lead in the Transitions Championship and the Byron Nelson Championship after 36 holes, but faded on the weekend.

2011: 2011 Open Championship

In 2011, Sergio García withdrew from qualifying for the Open Championship due to an infected finger. He eventually earned a spot in the U.S. Open, finishing in a tie for seventh place. He also finished tied for ninth place in The 2011 Open Championship.

August 2012: Wyndham Championship Victory

In August 2012, Sergio García ended a four-year title drought on the PGA Tour by winning the Wyndham Championship and secured a spot on the 2012 Ryder Cup team.

December 2012: Iskandar Johor Open Victory

In December 2012, Sergio García won the Iskandar Johor Open on the Asian Tour after firing a final round 61.

2012: PGA Tour Win

In 2012, García had a near win at The Honda Classic and won the AT&T Byron Nelson championship, his first PGA Tour win since 2012 and ninth career victory, tying Seve Ballesteros for most by a Spanish-born player.

January 2014: Commercial Bank Qatar Masters Win

In January 2014, Sergio García won the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters after defeating Mikko Ilonen in a playoff, returning him to the world's top 10.

July 2014: Runner-up at The Open Championship

In July 2014, Sergio García finished joint runner-up at the 2014 Open Championship, two strokes behind Rory McIlroy. This finish moved García back inside the world's top five in the world rankings.

2015: Players Championship and Ho Tram Open

In 2015, Sergio García tied for second at the Players Championship, losing in a playoff. He won the Ho Tram Open on the Asian Tour.

February 2017: Omega Dubai Desert Classic Victory

In February 2017, Sergio García won the Omega Dubai Desert Classic, his first European Tour title in over three years. The victory moved García back inside the top-10.

April 2017: Masters Tournament Victory

On April 9, 2017, Sergio García won the Masters Tournament in a playoff against Justin Rose, becoming the third Spanish player to win the Masters, on what would have been Seve Ballesteros' 60th birthday.

October 2017: Parting Ways with TaylorMade

In October 2017, Sergio García parted ways with TaylorMade after 15 years with the equipment brand.

2017: Masters Tournament Win

As of October 2020, Sergio García has eleven PGA Tour victories, including the 2017 Masters Tournament.

January 2018: Sergio García severs ties with TaylorMade, remains with Adidas and signs with Callaway

In January 2018, Sergio García ended his 15-year relationship with TaylorMade, following its acquisition by KPS Capital Partners and separation from Adidas. García remained with Adidas and signed with Callaway.

January 2018: SMBC Singapore Open Victory

On January 21, 2018, Sergio García won the Asian Tour's SMBC Singapore Open by five strokes.

April 2018: High Score and Missed Cut at Masters

On April 5, 2018, during the first round of the 2018 Masters Tournament, Sergio García recorded a 13 on the 15th hole, tying the record for most strokes on a hole in Masters history. He ultimately missed the cut.

June 2018: End of CF Borriol Presidency

Until June 2018, Sergio García served as the president and chairman of his hometown football club, CF Borriol.

September 2018: Ryder Cup Victory

In September 2018, Sergio García was a member of the victorious European team at the Ryder Cup, contributing 3–1–0 and winning his singles match.

October 2018: Andalucía Valderrama Masters Victory

On October 22, 2018, Sergio García successfully defended his Andalucía Valderrama Masters title.

2018: Ryder Cup Points Leader

In 2018, Sergio García's singles win made him the all-time Ryder Cup points leader, with 25 1/2 points.

April 2019: Missed Cut at the Masters

In April 2019, Sergio García missed the cut at the Masters, marking his 6th consecutive missed cut in a major championship, the longest such streak in his career.

September 2019: KLM Open Victory

In September 2019, Sergio García won the KLM Open in Amsterdam.

January 2020: End of Association with Callaway

In January 2020, Sergio García announced that he had ended his association with Callaway after two years.

October 2020: PGA Tour Victories

As of October 2020, Sergio García has eleven PGA Tour victories, including the 2017 Masters Tournament.

October 2020: Sanderson Farms Championship Win

In October 2020, Sergio García won the Sanderson Farms Championship, marking PGA Tour victories in three separate decades.

2020: García Parts Ways with Callaway

At the start of 2020, García confirmed that he had parted ways with Callaway after two years, becoming a free agent.

2021: Ryder Cup Record Extension

By winning three of his four matches at Whistling Straits in 2021, Sergio García extended his Ryder Cup points record to 28 1/2 points and surpassed Nick Faldo as the player with the most individual match victories, with 25.

2022: Joined LIV Golf

In 2022, Sergio García joined LIV Golf.

May 2023: Resignation from European Tour

In May 2023, the European Tour announced that Sergio García had resigned his membership after being subject to fines and suspension for playing in LIV events without a conflicting event release.