Video Tiger Will Never Tire Of: Sergio's 17th Hole Water Balls

Oddly, the editors of this package deprive us of one of Sergio Garcia's balls going into the TPC Sawgrass's 17th hole lake, but nemesis Tiger Woods will no doubt savor seeing Garcia's Players Championship hopes unravel.

From PGA Tour Entertainment.

Sergio-on-17 highlights from the NBC gang:

Johnny Miller, on Sergio Garcia’s first tee shot into the water – “It was almost too much for him.  The minute he hit that, he knew it was right.”
 
Gary Koch, on David Lingmerth’s tee shot on 17 – “That is the first tee shot I have seen end up right of the flag.”
 
Gary Koch, on Sergio Garcia’s second tee shot on 17 that hit the water – “Absolutely amazing he would come up short.”
 
Johnny Miller, on Sergio Garcia’s struggles on 17 – “Tough to watch.”
 
Dan Hicks, on Sergio Garcia’s struggles on 17 – “You just never want to be one of those guys at 17.  One of those guys in contention who feels all alone when things just start going the other way.”

And while we're piling on, golf.com's Ryan Reiterman posts a nice compilation of Sergio's greatest meltdowns.

Comments

[Dick Mahoon]

A finish only a mother could love....

DM

[rgw]

These guys are good . . . yeah, until there's something more on the line greater than the Bob Hope Desert Classic.

[No longer Used to be Former Stack & Tilt Convert]

He went at a tough pin, two times, paid the price and made no excuses.

[Mulligan]

If I didn't know better, I could swear that you enjoyed this.

[Exilgolfer]

He has done that in Sweden too at the Nordea Masters
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7V9Aes1ajnE

[John R]

I wonder how clearly he was thinking on the second attempt. He was still in the tournament. If he could have managed a 4, a birdie on the last puts him in a playoff. Which option has a better chance for an up or down, the tee or the drop zone? Maybe neither.

[Dsl]

Are we sure this tournament means as much to the players as NBC hopes/ suggests? It's just another in a season of money grabs for these guys. I get that they are competitive and want to win, but does anyone really want to win this more than any of the other tournaments? For me, the Majors are everything. All other events might as well be the 84 Lumber Classic.

[DRM]

John, the drop zone had a worse angle for sure. I just can't believe he didn't grab a 9 iron after the first one came up short in the water. Stubbornly kept hitting that wedge like Tin Cup.

[DTF]

2 of the world top-40 didn't play the event.....I'm sure it's because they viewed it as nothing more than an exhibition and were saving themselves for the majors.

[PA PLAYA]

I think Sergio knew good and well that it was over after the first splash, and the 2nd attempt was little more than a consolation effort.

To be fair - I think the odds of making birdie were greater on the 17th than the 18th. Obviously the risk was higher as well. I think that was his mindset initially, that he was going to hit a great shot and make birdie, then not have to try to force the issue with a mid-iron to a very dicey hole location on the last, providing that he would even hit a good tee shot on the last to have a direct line to the green.

Lots of speculation on my part, but I'll give him credit for taking dead aim and trying to win. It doesn't make him no less of a crybaby, but I can understand why one of the best ball strikers in the game played aggressively with a short iron approach to that pin. As far as the 2nd water ball goes... I think he knew it was over after the first splash. The 2nd attempt was little more than a consolation effort, albeit expensive.

[3foot1]

I was more shocked by his second ball than the first. At that point he should have known EXACTLY how to it to within 25 feet, and maybe luck into a playoff.

[MikeZ]

I was confused (well, maybe not) by his reaction. He kinda laughed it off -- both times, if I recall. It was almost as if he was expecting the result: "There I go again! Oh, well." He's got so much scar tissue, it's like he's incapable of visualizing a good result in a clutch situation.