Garcia named European Tour Golfer of the Year

Sergio Garcia has been named the European Tour Golfer of the Year for 2017.

The 37-year-old won three times on the European Tour, including his maiden major championship title at The Masters in April.

Garcia beat Ryder Cup team-mate Justin Rose in a play-off at Augusta to become the third Spaniard to slip into the Green Jacket, following in the footsteps of Seve Ballesteros and Jose Maria Olazabal.

The Golfer of the Year – an award Ballesteros won on three occasions in 1986, ‘88 and ‘91 – is voted for by the golf media. He beat off competition from Rose, Tommy Fleetwood, Tyrrell Hatton and Rookie of the Year Jon Rahm.

“This is an amazing honour,” Garcia, whose year of celebration also included getting married to Angela Akins in July, said. “I think both on and off the golf course it has been a unique and unbelievable year, and one that I will definitely remember my whole life.

“I am so happy to receive this award against the calibre of players that were in contention is incredible. Tommy, Justin, Tyrrell and Jon are all amazing players, and all had unbelievable years themselves.

“With the five of us filling the top five places in the Race to Dubai, it shows the real strength of the European Tour, and European players in particular, and hopefully we will keep that going for next September in Paris.”

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