Sergio Garcia

Garcia became the Ryder Cup’s record points-scorer when he won three of his four games during Europe’s triumph in Paris in 2018. In September’s defeat he added three more points alongside compatriot Jon Rahm to take his total to 28 ½ from 10 matches, the first of which in 1999 saw him become the only teenager to be capped.

After 73 majors without a win, starting as a 16-year-old amateur in The Open of 1996, Garcia finally achieved his dream with a play-off victory over Justin Rose at the 2017 Masters on what would have been the 60th birthday of Seve Ballesteros.

It followed 22 major top-10 finishes, four of them second places. Winner of the 1998 Amateur Championship, Garcia was runner-up to Tiger Woods at the following season’s PGA Championship, lost a play-off to Padraig Harrington at Carnoustie in 2007, was denied by the Dubliner again at the 2008 PGA and then by Rory McIlroy at Royal Liverpool in 2014.

His triumph at Augusta was the 10th of 11 successes on American soil, no fewer than six of them coming in play-offs. He also has 16 European Tour titles.

Garcia stood second in the world rankings behind Woods after victory at the HSBC Champions in 2008, the same season that he lifted the Players Championship.