Sergio Garcia has said he is ‘a little tired mentally’ after shooting a three-over round of 73 in his home tournament at Valderrama.
Garcia, who is hosting the tournament this week, failed to card a birdie in the first nine, shooting bogeys on holes one, three, five and seven.
Things didn’t get any better on the back nine as he carded a bogey five at the 10th hole. Things got better after three straight pars then back-to-back birdies on 14 and 15. The Spaniard played the last three holes on level par after finishing bogey, birdie, par.
Garcia told Sky Sports: “I’m in a difficult moment of the season.
“I’m a little bit mentally tired I guess, which is disappointing for me to come here to the Open de Espana and feel like I am not maybe as strong mentally as I would like to be. I just have to fight hard and get through it. I am going to have a nice break after this which I feel like I need.
“Scheduling-wise, with the Olympics and everything you have to find a way of getting your numbers [of tournaments] up in America and Europe earlier on in the year. Unfortunately, you have to go through stretches where I would not like to play as much but I have to.”
Garcia talks about Valderrama: “It’s great to see a golf course that is only 6,900 yards that play so tough, even with almost perfect conditions like we had today.
“There are chances but there’s always danger lurking. Even on holes where you have chances, you still have to hit great shots. For example, on 17, I made birdie and almost an eagle, but it was still a three iron over the water and I just carried it by a couple of yards.”
