'I just intend to forget it' Garcia's horrific British Open ends with second-round 83 Click here for more on this story Posted: Friday July 16, 1999 05:10 PM   He came in as one of the favorites, but Sergio Garcia left scratching his head just like everyone else. AP CARNOUSTIE, Scotland (AP) -- Teen-age rookie Sergio Garcia went into the British Open as one of the title favorites after his sensational form since turning pro. No one expected him to mis the cut and finish dead last. The 19-year-old Spaniard, expected to become one of the biggest names in the game and a natural successor to countryman Seve Ballesteros and Jose Maria Olazabal, wound up 30 over par after a second round 83 on Friday as windy Carnoustie tore up his game plan and all but crushed his confidence. That followed a first round 89. Having turned pro barely two months ago, Garcia had announced his arrival with a first tour victory at the Irish Open and a tie for second at Loch Lomond on Saturday. Garcia has twice carded 62s in recent weeks with masterful approach play and immaculate putting and he arrived at Carnoustie talking confidently of taking on probably the most fearsome course in the history of the Open. But those performances weren't on links courses and the teen-ager shook his head in frustration as he was blown off course at Carnoustie. His irons missed the narrow fairways and frequently landed in the long, thick rough or the deep bunkers. "I started bad and every good shot was turning into a bad shot because of the kicks and every bad shot was getting worse," said the young Spaniard who couldn't remember if he had ever finished last before. "I will try to forget everything. This was just impossible to enjoy. I made a bad start and everything went the wrong way. You have to be lucky sometimes but that didn't happen to me this week and it was getting worse and worse. "I have walked off the 18th and will forget everything," said Garcia who joined the chorus of criticism about how the tournament organizers had left the rough to grow to knee length in places. "I won't watch the [rest of] the British Open on TV because I don't think it deserves it," he said. "I just think it's not good. "The course is a great golf course but if they did a good job this Open could be a really good one. "You can have probably the toughest golf course in the world and 12 yards wide fairways and you know the weather is going to be like this and I don't think they really took it the right way," Garcia said. "Hopefully I would enjoy it more if the conditions and setup were different because I always like to play links courses. I was trying to enjoy myself but I just couldn't." After winning his first tournament two weeks ago, Garcia honored a pledge to himself by shaving his head. Before the Open he said he would continue growing his hair until he had won a major. On the basis of this one, it might be down to his waist.   Related information Stories Sergio Garcia's British Open Scorecard Parnevik fights British past, allergies at Carnoustie Pampling becomes first first-round leader to miss cut Cabrera one stroke back after two rounds at Open Monty says he's out of contention after 76 Van De Velde shoots 68 for lead; Woods in the hunt Multimedia Click here for the latest audio and video Search our site Watch CNN/SI 24 hours a day Sports Illustrated and CNN have combined to form a 24 hour sports news and information channel. To receive CNN/SI at your home call your cable operator or DirecTV. Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.

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