Sergio García Facts for Kids

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal family name is García and the second or maternal family name is Fernández.

Quick facts for kids Sergio García
García in 2017
Personal information
Full name	Sergio García Fernández
Nickname	El Niño
Born	(1980-01-09) 9 January 1980 (age 45) Borriol, Castellón, Spain
Height	5 ft 10 in
Weight	180 lb (82 kg; 13 st)
Nationality	Spain
Residence	Borriol, Castellón, Spain Crans-Montana, Switzerland Orlando, Florida, U.S. Austin, Texas, U.S.
Spouse	Angela Akins (m. 2017)
Children	2
Career
Turned professional	1999
Current tour(s)	Asian Tour LIV Golf
Former tour(s)	PGA Tour European Tour
Professional wins	38
Number of wins by tour
PGA Tour	11
European Tour	16
Japan Golf Tour	1
Asian Tour	5
Other	5
Best results in Major Championships (Wins: 1)
The Masters Tournament	Won: 2017
U.S. Open	T3: 2005
The Open Championship	2nd/T2: 2007, 2014
PGA Championship	2nd/T2: 1999, 2008
Achievements and awards
Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year	1999
Byron Nelson Award	2008
Vardon Trophy	2008
European Tour Golfer of the Year	2017

Sergio García Fernández (born 9 January 1980) is a famous Spanish professional golfer. He is known for his powerful and accurate shots. García has won 38 tournaments around the world, including the famous 2017 Masters Tournament. Because he was so good at a young age, he earned the nickname "El Niño," which is Spanish for "The Kid."

García was one of the world's top golfers for many years. He spent over 450 weeks ranked in the top 10 of the Official World Golf Ranking. He is also a record-breaking star in the Ryder Cup, a major team event between Europe and the United States. In 2022, he joined the LIV Golf tour.

Early Life and Amateur Success
Professional Golf Career
Handling On-Course Frustration
Personal Life
Images for kids
See also

Early Life and Amateur Success

García started playing golf when he was only three years old. His father, Victor, was a golf professional and taught him how to play. By age 12, Sergio was already the champion of his local golf club.

As a teenager, he broke records. In 1995, at age 15, he became the youngest player to "make the cut" (qualify to play all four rounds) in a European Tour event. He also won the European Amateur championship that same year. He continued to win major amateur tournaments, including The Amateur Championship in 1998.

Professional Golf Career

Becoming a Pro

García turned professional in 1999. He quickly became famous at the 1999 PGA Championship when he had an exciting duel with superstar Tiger Woods. García finished in second place, but a memorable moment showed his passion. His ball was stuck behind a tree, but he hit an amazing shot onto the green without even seeing it. He then ran and jumped to see where his ball landed.

That same year, he became the youngest player ever to compete in the Ryder Cup. He won his first professional tournament, the Irish Open, just a few months after turning pro.

García in 2004

A Star on the PGA Tour

At age 21, García won his first PGA Tour event, the MasterCard Colonial in Texas. He won another tournament that same year, becoming the youngest player to win on the tour since Tiger Woods.

Over the years, García won many more tournaments. One of his biggest wins was The Players Championship in 2008. This event is often called the "fifth major" because it is so important. He won in a dramatic playoff on the famous 17th hole, which has a green surrounded by water.

Ryder Cup Legend

García is one of the greatest players in the history of the Ryder Cup. This team event pits the best golfers from Europe against the best from the United States. García has played for Team Europe ten times.

He is known for his passion and skill in the Ryder Cup. He holds the record for the most points ever earned by a player, with 28.5 points. He has been part of six winning European teams and is celebrated for his teamwork and sportsmanship.

Winning a Major Championship

For many years, García was known as one of the best players to have never won a "major" championship (the four most important tournaments in golf). He came very close many times, finishing second at The Open Championship twice and the PGA Championship twice.

García at the 2018 Ryder Cup in France

His dream finally came true at the 2017 Masters Tournament. In his 74th attempt to win a major, García defeated English golfer Justin Rose in a sudden-death playoff. He won by making a birdie putt on the first extra hole. It was an emotional victory for García and for Spain, as he became the third Spanish golfer to win the Masters. The win happened on what would have been the 60th birthday of his hero, Spanish golf legend Seve Ballesteros.

Joining LIV Golf

In 2022, García made a major career change by joining the new LIV Golf tour. This decision meant he had to resign from the PGA Tour and the European Tour, where he had played for over 20 years. He continues to compete in LIV Golf events around the world.

Handling On-Course Frustration

Like many athletes, García has sometimes shown his frustration on the course. In 2007, he was criticized for spitting into a cup after a bad putt. In 2019, he was disqualified from a tournament in Saudi Arabia for damaging several greens out of anger.

He has also had public disagreements with other players, including Tiger Woods. In 2013, he made an inappropriate comment about Woods at a dinner, for which he later apologized. These moments show the high pressure that professional golfers face.

Personal Life

In 2017, García married Angela Akins, who was a reporter for the Golf Channel. They have two children, a daughter named Azalea and a son named Enzo. He named his daughter after the famous flowers at Augusta National Golf Club, where he won the Masters.

Besides golf, García is a big fan of the Real Madrid soccer team. After his Masters win, he was given the honor of taking the opening kickoff at a game between Real Madrid and their rival, FC Barcelona. He was also the president of his hometown soccer team, CF Borriol, and even played for them sometimes.