By Alex Myers
The Year of Sergio Garcia took an unusual, um, twist on Friday at the 146th British Open. The Spaniard took out his frustration on a gorse bush at Royal Birkdale, and predictably, it didn’t go well.
Update: This is how Sergio hurt his right arm. Took a swipe at the gorse … and the gorse won. #TheOpen pic.twitter.com/Z3uYcQNfBX
— Ryan Lavner (@RyanLavnerGC) July 21, 2017
Golf fans got fescue overload during the U.S. Open at Erin Hills, but gorse never seems to get its proper due when it comes to on-course shrubbery. It’s thick. It’s prickly. And when I brushed my hand up against some by mistake the other day, I half expected to look down and see myself gushing with blood.
Thankfully, though, I was OK. And it appears Garcia is as well, although Golf Channel’s Ryan Lavner reported he received some treatment shortly after. Garcia bogeyed the fourth hole, but bounced back with this eagle on No. 5:
Sergio is flying! @thesergiogarcia holes an eagle at the 5th. #TheOpen pic.twitter.com/UZXYSVv6HO
— The Open (@TheOpen) July 21, 2017
And Garcia has made all pars since. Again, the most important thing is his health. Yeah, yeah, he’s got this tournament, but he’s also getting married next week so we’re pretty sure his fiancee, Angela Akins, would be pretty ticked if Sergio showed up to the wedding with his arm in a sling. After all, Garcia wasn’t hitting out of a gorse bush, but rather, hitting one. It’s a mistake in judgement we can all learn from.
Lesson of the day for Sergio: If you're angry, don't take it out on a gorse bush. Gorse is undefeated.
— Mike O'Malley (@GD_MikeO) July 21, 2017