ASSOCIATED PRESS
Sergio Garcia and Pro-Am partner Clint Eastwood looked over a putt yesterday in Kapalua.
Garcia gets KAPALUA, Maui >> With Tiger Woods missing from the Mercedes Championships scene, Sergio Garcia sees this as an opportunity to seize the day. The defending champion of the PGA Tour's season-opening event would like nothing better than to dethrone Woods as the leading money winner. For four years, Woods has ruled supreme. But with his arrival not expected until sometime next month, Garcia and his 35 fellow competitors this week want to make as much as they can as fast as they can.
jump on Tiger
for money battle
The 23-year-old wants
Wie is in demand
to take advantage of Woods'
absence at this week's MercedesBy Paul Arnett
parnett@starbulletin.com"It doesn't change your mindset, not at all," Garcia said. "If Tiger is in the field, you still aim for the No. 1 spot. There's still guys out there who can play really well. I mean, there's no doubt that if you play three or four tournaments before he starts, well, that's something you have ahead.
"But you don't really focus on that. You just focus on playing well yourself, not what the other guys are doing. Yeah, there's no doubt if you win the money list here in the states, you're doing really well because Tiger is always playing well. If you get to have a year like the one he has, it's always a good year."
Garcia didn't have a bad year himself. He was the only golfer in the world to finish in the top 10 of all four majors: the Masters, the U.S. Open, the British Open and the PGA. But despite this high level of consistency, the 23-year-old has yet to win a major. And that weighs a little heavy on his mind.
"Well, I'll win it," Garcia said. "I don't know when. Hopefully this year. You know, there's no doubt that that's what we aim for; we aim for majors. If you don't, if you end up your career without winning a major, there's a little spot in your heart that's a little empty. We try to do that. I'm confident that I'm going to win hopefully more than one."
As celebrated as Garcia is worldwide, he has won only three times on the PGA Tour, including last year's stunning victory here on Maui. Garcia had hoped the win would give him the boost to not only be the leading money winner in America, but in Europe as well. Garcia only had one win on the PGA Tour last year, but still finished 12th on the money list. He had victories in Europe and Asia as well.
"You know, actually I feel like last year was a pity, I really do," Garcia said. "It was a shame. I really felt like I started out playing really well. Unfortunately, I was putting badly. You know, when you get in that mood, it's tough to get it going.
"I still gave myself a lot of chances to win. Because I didn't putt well, I didn't win as many times as I should have, or at least as I feel that I should have. If I keep putting myself in those kinds of positions, I come through a little easier."
Garcia's group finished first in the Pro-Am yesterday. He personally shot a 4-under 69. But given the ideal weather conditions, he conceded that number might not be as low as he needs to go entering today's opening 18 holes.
"I'm looking forward to hopefully repeat this week," Garcia said. "It's a great place. I love it. I really like the course. Let's see if we can make the garage a little bigger (the winner gets not only $1 million, but a new Mercedes as well). My main competition is probably Ernie (Els) and Vijay (Singh). But you never know what might happen."
Mercedes Championships
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ASSOCIATED PRESS
Honolulu teenager Michelle Wie made three birdies during yesterday's Mercedes Championships Pro-Am.
KAPALUA, Maui >> Michelle Wie and her parents kept trying to grab a bite of lunch after yesterday's Pro-Am at the Mercedes Championships, but it was as difficult as getting an interview with Clint Eastwood. Wie swings for
Sony qualificationBy Paul Arnett
parnett@starbulletin.comEvery time the Punahou School teenager and her family edged toward the door of the Plantation Course restaurant, reporters and fans alike wanted a few more minutes of their time. Some were congratulatory, others were inquisitive. But all were in awe of Wie's accomplishments.
Playing in a fivesome with Japanese sensation Shigeki Maruyama, Wie contributed three birdies in the best-ball format. Wie and Co. shot 60, some six shots off the pace. Sergio Garcia's fivesome won with a round of 54. Two of Garcia's partners were Eastwood and fellow actor Dennis Hopper, but on this late morning, they weren't any more popular than Wie.
"It was a lot of fun," Wie said of the round, methodically cracking her knuckles as people crowded around her. "This is a good experience for me."
Her father, B.J. Wie, agreed with that sentiment. His daughter will attempt to qualify for the Sony Open on Monday at the Pearl Country Club. And while it's a long shot she will earn one of the four spots open for the first full-field event of the PGA Tour, the fact she's even taking a swing at it is news itself.
"Her swing is very good right now," said B.J. Wie, who continues to caddy for his daughter. "Our main goal this year is to qualify for the women's U.S. Open in July. Playing in the Pro-Am here and trying out for the Sony Open hopefully will help Michelle achieve that goal."
Wie continues to play golf every day. Her first attempt to qualify for the U.S. Open will be at the Waialae Country Club later this year. If she clears that hurdle, B.J. Wie said, he wants to take his daughter to the East Coast to try to qualify from there.
"We tried out in California last year and it was very competitive," B.J Wie said. "Only two make it out of all the golfers who try out. We want to play in a section of the country that gives Michelle a better chance."
Michelle Wie said her driving has improved, but her short game was a little rusty. She putted well enough to sink three birdies, something she was proud of by the end of the day.
"It was exciting," Wie said. "My game is coming along pretty good. My short game is improving. I'm looking forward to trying out for the Sony next week."
Mercedes Championships
