またしてもメジャーで2位、しかも昨年の全英オープンと同じ相手（パドレイグ・ハリントン）に敗れたセルヒオ・ガルシア。
これで41回メジャー大会に出場して0勝、トップ10入りが14回。またしても悲願のメジャー制覇はおあずけとなった。
わずか19歳でタイガー・ウッズとデッドヒートを繰り広げたメダイナCCでの全米プロ選手権から9年。ガルシアは着実にツアーの中で地位を築いてきた。昨年の全英オープンが一つのターニングポイントになるはずだった。しかし最終18番で1打リードしながらパーパットを外してプレーオフに。ハリントンに1打及ばず涙をのんだ。今年、一回り成長したガルシアは「第5のメジャー」ザ・プレーヤーズを優勝。「もうそろそろいいだろ...」。そう思われていた今年の最終メジャーで、またしても2位。
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英語で「Close but no cigar」ということわざがある。その由来は、昔、アメリカを転々とする移動遊園地のアトラクションで景品に葉巻（cigar）が配られていたそうだ。1935年、大人気映画にもなった「アニー・オークリー」の物語の中でこのフレーズが初めて使われ大流行した。「惜しいけど、葉巻さえもらえないよ」＝「成功まであと一歩だけど、その見返りは何もない」というニュアンス。ガルシアは着実にメジャーに近づいていると言う人もいるが、僕には彼のアクションはそう見えない。それを象徴するシーンがあった。
2007年の全英オープン、最終日プレーオフ。２ホール目のパー3。ガルシアのティショットはピンを直撃。騒然とするギャラリー。しかし、その歓声をあざ笑うかのように、ボールは止まらない。ピンから6メートル。結局、2パットしミラクルショットがパーになった。そのショットを振り返ったガルシアはこう言った。
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「面白いよね。他の奴らはピンに当てて30センチにつける。俺のはピンに当たると6メートル転がる。何が一番虚しいかわかるか？今回が最初じゃないんだ。だから分からない。。。俺の敵はこの大会に出てる選手以外にいるんだよ、きっと」
不思議な力が働いていることを示唆したこの発言は、いろんなところで話題になった。ガルシアがいつまで経ってもメジャーを勝てないのは、こういった幼稚なメンタリティーのせいだ指摘した。自分が放つ全てのショットは自分の責任であり、ゴルファーとしてのスポーツマンシップに欠ける、とまで言う者もいた。
そして、皮肉なことに、この全米プロ選手権の最終日に「デジャヴー」が起きた。15番のパー4、2打目を積極的に狙っていったガルシアのショットはピンを直撃。今回は3メートル転がった。
「キャディにピンを抜くように指示しておけばよかったな」と語るガルシアの目は真剣で、冗談なのか本気なのか、よくわからない・・・。
そのインタビューがこちら。
今回、ガルシアは「出場している選手以外の力」にその敗因を押し付けることはなかった。そういう意味では成長しているのかもしれない。にしても、昨年の全英に続きまたしても最終ラウンドで首位に立ちながら勝てなかったことについて聞かれると「次の質問にいこう。お願いだからなるべくポジティブな質問にしてくれ」と守りの姿勢を貫いた。
どうなんだろう。。。ガルシアはメジャーを勝つ実力があるのは誰もが認めているのに、最後のもう一山を越えられない精神的な未熟度が言動や行動の隅々に垣間見えてしまう。
あと何度か瀬戸際での争いをすれば、強くなるのか。それとも・・・。
「前にも言ったことはあるが、選手の中には運を味方につける奴はいる。メジャーの大舞台で競り合いになると、ショットの精度を上げて自らの方に運を引きつけられる選手がいる。不運にも、俺にまだそれは起きていない。キャリアを振り返っても、メジャーは2勝していてもいいほど良いプレーはしているんだ」
「運も実力のうち」とはよく言ったものだ。このままだと、ガルシアがメジャー最終日に「Cigar」をふかして祝うシーンは見られないかもしれない・・・。
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