Carlos Alcaraz, the 20-year-old newly-minted tennis superstar, is preparing for a round with new friends. Wednesday he’ll be playing with fellow 2017 Masters champion, Sergio Garcia. Garcia is still heartbroken over being left off this year’s Ryder Cup team. Later this month, the new Team Europe will challenge Team USA on home soil at Bethpage Black.
Most recently, Alcaraz outlasted Jiri Lehecka in the US Open quarterfinals. How well he played in tennis was probably what impressed us most! He sure was happy about that golf tournament! He laughed and added that Garcia should provide him with “at least between 10 and 15 shots.” The young athlete’s lighthearted banter reflects a friendly rivalry as he acknowledges Garcia’s expertise in the game.
Garcia had a difficult season himself, notching just one top-10 finish over his past eight LIV Golf tournaments. Continuing to keep things real, he expressed his ambivalence about where he finds himself now. Captain Luke Donald did not include him among the at-large selections for Team Europe. This decision, though, has proven to be mentally exhausting for him.
I was thrilled to get on that team and looking forward to the experience. It turned out that playing in the Irish Open was a big mental test for me. That’s the real tragedy, not being able to participate in an event that will be one of a kind, Garcia lamented.
He went inside, overwhelmed with this disappointment, and for the first time in years, Garcia made the decision to quit competitive golf. “I didn’t want to go there and not be fully engaged in the tournament and stuff, so I just decided to take a little bit of time off and spend it with the family and do a couple of things, you know, some things outside of golf and just kind of reboot a little bit, recharge the batteries,” he explained.
The highly anticipated golf showdown between Alcaraz and Garcia will offer a welcome diversion for the battle-tested traveler. Equally important is the opportunity that it provides for both athletes to connect and develop camaraderie through their love of sports. Alcaraz’s youthful exuberance contrasts with Garcia’s seasoned experience, creating a dynamic atmosphere for their time on the course.
Though they look ahead to a serious battle on the court, Alcaraz’s spirited gambit to Garcia serves as a reminder of how light-hearted camaraderie underlies their dynamic. “It’s going to be great. I’m not that good, Sergio, come on,” Alcaraz added, emphasizing the fun they anticipate during their round of golf.
Leave a Reply