Dallas preview: Captain Garcia surprises everyone with his line-up against Majesticks
CARROLLTON, Texas – Captain Sergio Garcia gave a huge vote of confidence on his young Fireball teammates Euegnio Chacarra and David Puig, when he decided to send them out in the singles after picking up Majesticks as their quarter-final opponents in the LIV Golf Team Championship in Dallas.
It will be a repeat of the quarterfinal match from last year in Miami, when the Fireballs had picked up Majesticks, and then proceeded to beat them 2-1 to advance to the semi-finals.
However, LIV Golf Andalucia winner Garcia, who has been the most successful and consistent player for his team, surprised everyone by naming Chacarra and Puig for the singles and pairing with Abraham Ancer, the next best Fireball player this season, for the foursomes.
But Garcia has his own reasons and feels confident that the team will deliver the goods and reach the semi-finals on Saturday.
“Well, first of all, I have full belief and confidence in all of my players. Obviously, I think that Eugenio and David are very, very strong singles players,” said Garcia, who finished third in the overall rankings this season and is the most successful player in the history of Ryder Cup for Team Europe.
“I felt Eugenio is comfortable playing his own ball and doing his own things. And we all know how talented David is. He can shoot a 6- or 8-under on any course on his day.
“I want both of them to know they have my full faith. I am 100 per cent behind them, standing in their support.”
On his decision to opt for the foursomes instead of singles, Garcia added: “Match play is different. I can go out there and shoot 5-under, and Henrik could have beaten me playing 6-under, or 3-under.
“I also feel that foursomes is a format that I have greatly enjoyed during my Ryder Cup years. It is probably the most difficult format we play and I felt Abe and I could match up really well. Both of us have played consistent golf all season, and you need p[layers who are consistent in foursomes.
“I don’t want to be in a position where we lose the foursomes and one of the singles doesn’t go our way. I think we have got a very strong line-up.”
It also helps that both Chacarra, 23, and Puig, 22, have plenty of recent singles match play experience being part of the US college golf system. Chacarra was a standout player for Oklahoma State University, while Puig excelled for Arizona State University.
FRIDAY’S MATCHES
Singles: Eugenio Chacarra vs Henrik Stenson
Singles: David Puig vs Ian Poulter
Foursomes: Sergio Garcia/Abraham Ancer vs Lee Westwood/Sam Horsfield