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 is a Spanish professional golfer who turned pro in 1999. He has achieved significant success, winning 36 international tournaments, including the prestigious 2008 Players Championship and the 2017 Masters Tournament. He played on the European Tour and PGA Tour before joining LIV Golf in 2022. García also held the position of Chairman for the Spanish football team CF Borriol.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles

1996: European Boys' Team Championship Win

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

1997: European Boys' Team Championship Win

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

1997: Won Boys Amateur Championship

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

1998: Won 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 Argentine Open, winning the Pereira Iraola Cup.

July 1999: First European Tour Title

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, playing on the European Tour and PGA Tour before joining LIV Golf in 2022.

1999: Ryder Cup debut

Since 1999, Sergio García has been a member of every European Ryder Cup team, with the exception of 2010 and 2023.

2001: First PGA Tour Event

In 2001, at the age of 21, Sergio García won his first PGA Tour event at the MasterCard Colonial in Fort Worth, Texas, and then won again at the Buick Classic in New York the same year.

2002: Albatross at the Masters

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

2002: Mercedes Championships win

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

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 Success

In 2006, at the Ryder Cup at the K Club in the Republic of Ireland, Sergio García won multiple matches. Europe won the cup with 18.5 points to the United States' 9.5 points.

2007: 54-hole lead at Open Championship

In 2007, Sergio García held a 54-hole lead at the Open Championship.

May 2008: Players Championship Win

On 11 May 2008, Sergio García won The Players Championship on the PGA Tour in a sudden-death playoff against Paul Goydos. Goydos made double bogey while García made par for the win.

October 2008: Castelló Masters Win

On 26 October 2008, Sergio García won his first European Tour title in over three years at the Castelló Masters Costa Azahar. He dedicated the victory to Seve Ballesteros.

November 2008: Reached Career High Ranking

In November 2008, after winning the HSBC Champions tournament, Sergio García reached his highest career ranking of second in the Official World Golf Ranking.

November 2008: HSBC Champions Victory

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

2008: Start of winless streak

In 2008, Sergio García started a winless streak that lasted until October 2011, when he won the Castelló Masters.

2008: Won The Players Championship

In 2008, Sergio García won The Players Championship, marking a significant achievement in his career.

2008: Successful season

Sergio García had a successful season in 2008, but a very disappointing season in 2009.

2009: HSBC Champions Victory

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

2009: Disappointing season

Sergio García had a successful season in 2008, but a very disappointing season in 2009, finishing ranked 74th on the PGA Tour money list.

August 2010: Ryder Cup Vice Captain

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

2010: Returned to Competitive Play

In late 2010, Sergio García returned to competitive play with a new putting grip.

2010: Ryder Cup absence

Sergio García was not a member of the European Ryder Cup team in 2010 and 2023.

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.

October 2011: Wins Castelló Masters and Andalucía Masters

In October 2011, Sergio García ended a three-year title drought with back-to-back wins in his home country at the Castelló Masters and the Andalucía Masters, dedicating the first win to the late Seve Ballesteros.

2011: U.S. Open and Open Championship

In 2011, Sergio García had to withdraw from qualifying for the Open Championship due to an infected finger. He qualified for the U.S. Open and tied for seventh place, and finished tied for ninth place in The Open Championship.

2011: Tournament Performances

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

August 2012: Wins Wyndham Championship

In August 2012, Sergio García won the Wyndham Championship on the PGA Tour, ending a four-year title drought on the PGA Tour. This victory also secured his place on the 2012 Ryder Cup team.

December 2012: Wins Iskandar Johor Open

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

2012: Wins AT&T Byron Nelson Championship

In May 2012, Sergio García won his second AT&T Byron Nelson championship in a playoff over Brooks Koepka. It was his first win on the PGA Tour since August 2012.

January 2014: Wins Commercial Bank Qatar Masters

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

July 2014: Runner-up at The Open Championship

In July 2014, Sergio García finished joint runner-up at The Open Championship, two strokes behind Rory McIlroy. This was his second runner-up finish at The Open Championship and fourth in a major championship.

2015: Ties at The Players Championship and Wins Ho Tram Open

In 2015, Sergio García tied at The Players Championship but was eliminated in the playoff. He then won the Ho Tram Open in Vietnam on the Asian Tour.

February 2017: Wins Omega Dubai Desert Classic

In February 2017, Sergio García won the Omega Dubai Desert Classic for his first European Tour title in over three years.

April 2017: Wins Masters Tournament

On April 9, 2017, Sergio García won the Masters Tournament in a sudden-death playoff against Justin Rose, becoming the third Spanish player to win the Masters.

October 2017: Parts ways with TaylorMade

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

2017: Won Masters Tournament

In 2017, Sergio García won the Masters Tournament, a notable victory in his professional career.

January 2018: Sergio García severs ties with TaylorMade

In January 2018, after fifteen years with TaylorMade, Sergio García severed his ties with the company following its acquisition by KPS Capital Partners and separation from Adidas. He remained with Adidas and signed with Callaway.

January 2018: Wins SMBC Singapore Open

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

April 2018: Shoots 13 on 15th hole and misses cut at Masters

In April 2018, during the first round of the 2018 Masters Tournament, Sergio García shot a 13 on the 15th hole and missed the cut, failing to defend his title.

September 2018: Member of Ryder Cup winning team

From 28-30 September 2018, Sergio García was a member of the 2018 Ryder Cup winning European team at Le Golf National outside of Paris, France, going 3-1-0 and winning his singles match against Rickie Fowler.

October 2018: Defends Andalucía Valderrama Masters title

On October 22, 2018, Sergio García successfully defended his Andalucía Valderrama Masters title, securing a four-shot victory.

2018: Ryder Cup Points Leader

In 2018, Sergio García's singles win made him the all-time Ryder Cup points leader, with 25.5 points in 9 appearances.

April 2019: Misses cut at Masters

In April 2019, Sergio García missed the cut at the Masters, marking his 6th straight missed cut in a major championship.

September 2019: Wins KLM Open

In September 2019, Sergio García won the KLM Open in Amsterdam, securing a one-shot victory.

January 2020: Ends association with Callaway

In January 2020, Sergio García announced he had ended his association with Callaway after just two years together, speaking ahead of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.

October 2020: PGA Tour victories

As of October 2020, Sergio García has eleven PGA Tour victories and 16 tour level victories to his name on the European Tour.

October 2020: Wins Sanderson Farms Championship

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

2020: García parts ways with Callaway

In 2020, Sergio García confirmed he had parted ways with Callaway after two years to become a free agent.

2021: Extended Ryder Cup Record

In 2021, By winning three of his four matches at Whistling Straits, Sergio García extended his Ryder Cup record to 28.5 points, and also 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, after previously playing on the European Tour and PGA Tour.

May 2023: Resigns from European Tour

In May 2023, after joining LIV and facing fines and suspensions, Sergio García resigned his membership of the European Tour after the sanctions were upheld by an independent arbitrator.