Sergio Garcia says split with girlfriend, Greg Norman's daughter, hurt his game
Sergio Garcia has been struggling with his game these past few months for the oldest reason in the world: a broken heart.
Garcia, who was in Turnberry this week, confirmed that he'd split with Morgan-Leigh Norman, Greg Norman's daughter, in mid-March, which is when his game started to go into a tailspin. Once a threat to overtake the injured Tiger Woods as the World No. 1, Garcia now fights for the third spot with Paul Casey and Geoff Ogilvy, well below Woods and Phil Mickelson.
John Hopkins of The Times (UK) has the authoritative report on the breakup, including who dumped whom. (Morgan initiated the breakup).
Speaking at Turnberry, where the Open will be held in July, [Garcia] said that it
had been her decision to part. He gave a deep sigh as he described his
discomfort on the golf course. “Myself, when I am not feeling happy on a
golf course and not up for it, that is the way it is. You can’t do anything
about it. I can’t do well. Obviously the break-up with Morgan didn’t help.
You get over some things. Others take a little longer.
“It was her doing, not mine, and it happened the week of Miami. It is
unfortunate, one of those things. Do I still think of her all the time? No.
It is pretty much back in the past now.”
Garcia, who gets criticized for his sometimes ill-advised comments and immature behavior, spoke about a painful time in his life in a naked way you don't often hear at a media news conference.
García said at Turnberry that he had not seen Ms Norman since the end of their
affair. “We are still friends but no, we haven’t spoken since then. We have
not telephoned. Obviously, because of the situation I would rather not talk
to her, because when you are trying to get over a relationship it is
difficult. But I don’t have a feeling of hate against her.”
Asked whether being in the public eye made it harder to deal with his
emotions, he replied: “No, I wasn’t sad because my relationship was public
because everybody knew about it. I was sad because of my feelings. It is
within me. It is in my heart. I am not thinking what other people are
thinking about it. I am thinking what I am thinking about it. At the end of
the day a relationship is still a relationship.”
Hopkins reports that Garcia appeared cheerful at Turnberry and said
he was feeling happier. Why not? He's young, rich, handsome and has
the world's best pickup line: Would you like to go for a ride in my
plane?
Posted by: Ben | May 29, 2009 1:30:31 PM
A breakup?!?! Please he hasn't been the same since he got gunned by AK47 at the Ryder Cup
Posted by: JohnB | May 29, 2009 12:28:22 PM
Sergio, two words buddy, Maria Verchenova!
Posted by: Miguel Sanchez | May 28, 2009 10:49:56 PM
I like the Idea of Brittiny. I have been checking her out lately, but ther's not much info on her. She's very fiery and what a smile. Very sexy.
Posted by: Bob | May 28, 2009 10:26:04 PM
Ok; understand about this current slump. What's the excuse for the others? What's the excuse for dis'ing the Masters? What's the excuse for spitting into a golf hole cup? It's the reason he'll never win a major and will never be a hall of famer; it's the 6 inches between his ears.
Posted by: HB | May 28, 2009 1:36:17 PM
To echo other posters, there are definitely more fish in the sea Sergio, and she really wasn't THAT hot. She is about a 7 or 8 out of 10. You would think he would have his pick of FINE spanish latinas to choose from, but they are probably even more turned off by his poor attitude than the anglo chicks. Spanish women are very fiery and don't take a lot of whining. I take consolation that even a multi-millionaire golfer who owns a plane can still get dumped on his butt just like any regular guy could. Buck up Sergio you will get another one soon I'm sure
Posted by: Rooney | May 28, 2009 11:07:29 AM
he should get back with Hingis
Posted by: mk | May 28, 2009 10:38:44 AM
Morgan is Fugly!!
Posted by: Robert | May 28, 2009 10:24:41 AM
Man, you guys are tough. Have a heart.
Posted by: JG | May 28, 2009 9:36:12 AM
If Sergio is looking for a woman, how about Brittany Liniciome of the LPGA who hits and likes them "long and straight"!
Posted by: JG | May 28, 2009 9:33:27 AM
Norman had a much worser problem to deal with in his divorce from Laura a couple of years ago and he has managed to build a new life with Chris Evert. What has little boy Sergio done to compensate for his breakup other than to moan about hte loss of Morgan Leigh Norman?
Posted by: Sam, Atlanta, GA | May 28, 2009 8:02:45 AM
A professional is someone who gets the job done - period. Get over it.
Posted by: uug | May 27, 2009 6:49:52 PM
Cry baby sergio! what a lame excuse!
Posted by: uug | May 27, 2009 6:47:06 PM
broken heart? other golfers have more serious problem than what garcia has! don't buy it. garcia is so hypocrite and overated golfer! he is a cry baby!
Posted by: Greg | May 27, 2009 6:21:59 PM
Sergio's pickup line, "Would you like to go for a ride in my airplane?" probably didn't impress Morgan much. She probably said, "El nino, your plane seats only four. My father's plane seats 54, but hey, his helicopter seats four."
Posted by: Tavin | May 27, 2009 2:18:06 PM
Hey Golf.com, since when did you guys become OMG.com? leave these kinds of $%&t out of it.
Posted by: DJ | May 27, 2009 2:14:44 PM
I knew it was something like that. He's emotionally immature to begin with and then to be dumped? Yeah, that's gotta hurt. Plenty of fish, Sergio. Plenty of fish...