'Natural chemistry' is key to Europe's Ryder Cup success, says Sergio Garcia

Sergio Garcia, the top points scorer in Ryder Cup history, has warned Collin Morikawa that the “chemistry” behind Europe’s success in the event is not something the US can necessarily expect to replicate in this year’s match at Whistling Straits.
Sergio Garcia plays in the pro am ahead of the Omega Dubai Desert Classic at Emirates Golf Club. Picture: Warren Little/Getty Images.Sergio Garcia plays in the pro am ahead of the Omega Dubai Desert Classic at Emirates Golf Club. Picture: Warren Little/Getty Images.
Sergio Garcia plays in the pro am ahead of the Omega Dubai Desert Classic at Emirates Golf Club. Picture: Warren Little/Getty Images.

Morikawa, who is on course to make his debut in the biennial match after winning the US PGA Championship last August, said he’d witnessed the bond among European players when he teed up in the DP World Tour Championship in December.

“We were all hanging out that week, obviously socially distant and wearing our masks, but everyone was enjoying it,” said the Californian of his first experience of playing in a European Tour event.

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Speaking as he prepared for the second in this week’s Omega Dubai Desert Classic, he added: “Everyone is a tight-knit group and I think the guys in the US, that's a big thing for us is just to have good team chemistry, and from there, we can go out and play our own games."

Garcia, who is bidding to boost his own hopes of playing in September’s rescheduled match in Wisconsin by recording a second Desert Classic victory in five years this weekend, agreed with that assessment.

“That chemistry is huge,” the Spaniard told The Scotsman. “It's probably one of our biggest, strongest weapons when it comes down to the Ryder Cup.

“But I think the most important thing about it is it's a natural chemistry, because we don't really have to work hard for it. We enjoy each other's company. We get along well.

“That obviously makes things a little bit easier for us to gel as much as possible when it comes down to that week.”

The camaraderie among European players has been shown time and time over in social media videos, the latest ‘Angry Golfers’ clip featuring man of the moment Tyrrell Hatton.

“I'm actually surprised that I didn't make it,” said Garcia, laughing, of that brilliant production. “I guess I've been quite calm for the last year, year and a half. So that probably helped me miss that spot.”

Hatton, who jumped to world No 5 on the back of his impressive Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship victory on Sunday, heads another strong field as he bids to make it a desert double in Dubai.

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The Englishman has already guaranteed his place on Padraig Harrington’s Ryder Cup team and Garcia, who surpassed Nick Faldo to become the top points scorer in the event with 25.5 as he fully justified his wildcard selection by winning three of his four matches in Paris in 2018, is determined to be alongside him at Whistling Straits.

“Obviously it’s something that I would love to be a part of and not so much to add to my total, but to add to Europe, and I know that if I do that, it obviously adds to my total,” said the 41-year-old.

Harrington, who is also playing in this week’s event in the Middle East, may have had his differences with Garcia in the past but not anymore and he expects the Spaniard to make that team.

“I never worry about Sergio's form,” he said. “Sergio, when it comes to The Ryder Cup, he knows what he's doing.”

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