Morgan leigh norman, THE course of true love never did run smooth, and for one of the world's best golfers it has led him into a deep patch of rough.
Sergio Garcia, who was at one point ranked No2 in the world, has revealed that a sudden loss of form since mid-March was the direct result of being jilted by his girlfriend.
The Spaniard admitted this week that his poor performance was not a case of the yips - a nervous condition that throws golfers off their game - but a loss of confidence caused by the end of his relationship with Morgan-Leigh Norman, daughter of Greg Norman.
Morgan-Leigh broke the news to him 10 weeks ago when the couple was in Miami. Garcia, 29, who has previously had a relationship with Martina Hingis, the Swiss tennis player, immediately went into a decline that allowed the English golfer Paul Casey to overtake him in the rankings last weekend. Garcia is now fourth.
"It hurt," Garcia said about the end of his relationship. "It was probably the first time I have been really in love.
"It took me a while to get over it."
The golfer has been looking irritable both on the course and off in recent months. He was forced to apologise last month after railing against conditions at Augusta, the home of the US Masters, which he described as "too much of a guessing game".
Speaking at Turnberry, where the British Open will be held in July, he said it had been her decision to part. He gave a deep sigh as he described his discomfort on the golf course.
"Myself, when I am not feeling happy on a golf course and not up for it, that is the way it is. You can't do anything about it. I can't do well.
"Obviously the break-up with Morgan didn't help. You get over some things. Others take a little longer.
"It was her doing, not mine, and it happened the week of Miami. It is unfortunate, one of those things. Do I still think of her all the time? No. It is pretty much back in the past now."
Casey, who is now third in the world rankings behind Americans Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson, has had love on his side.
The Englishman married late last year, an event that may have contributed to his winning three strokeplay events in the past four months and finishing runner-up in a matchplay tournament.
Thomas Bjorn, a Danish golfer, has previously remarked on the power of the newlywed effect.
"Being married is wonderful," he said. "She gives me such a lot of confidence."
Garcia's form has slumped in the weeks since the Championship event at Doral, Florida, where he tied for 31st place.
He was 77th in his next event, 38th in the Masters, and lasted only two rounds in the Quail Hollow Championship early this month.
He put up a more spirited performance at the Players Championship by finishing 22nd, but it was a poor performance compared with last year's tournament, which he won.
Garcia said at Turnberry that he had not seen Morgan-Leigh since the end of their affair. "We are still friends but no, we haven't spoken since then. We have not telephoned. Obviously, because of the situation I would rather not talk to her, because when you are trying to get over a relationship it is difficult. But I don't have a feeling of hate against her."
Earlier this week, Garcia seemed to be more cheerful. He gave his golfing partners a good-natured barracking and joked about the weather.
"I am definitely happier now than I was a couple of weeks back," he said. "I can feel it. People close to me can feel it. It is very important to me to be happy."
* Australian Open tournament operations manager Trevor Herden confirmed Golf Australia was in negotiations with 54-year-old Norman.
Norman has missed the Open in recent times because it has clashed with his Shark Shootout in the US. This year the Open (Dec 3-6) falls the week before the Shark Shootout.
However, Herden was cautious about talking up the chances of Norman returning to the Open, saying he was just one of the players GA was talking to.
"Yes, we are talking to Greg, and Adam (Scott) and Geoff (Ogilvy) and a number of the Australian players at the moment," Herden said.
"We're hoping to get confirmation from them around British Open time, when we see them. Greg couldn't play last year because the Open clashed with his own event but this year it doesn't so he may be available and we've asked him to come and play."
Sergio Garcia, who was at one point ranked No2 in the world, has revealed that a sudden loss of form since mid-March was the direct result of being jilted by his girlfriend.
The Spaniard admitted this week that his poor performance was not a case of the yips - a nervous condition that throws golfers off their game - but a loss of confidence caused by the end of his relationship with Morgan-Leigh Norman, daughter of Greg Norman.
Morgan-Leigh broke the news to him 10 weeks ago when the couple was in Miami. Garcia, 29, who has previously had a relationship with Martina Hingis, the Swiss tennis player, immediately went into a decline that allowed the English golfer Paul Casey to overtake him in the rankings last weekend. Garcia is now fourth.
"It hurt," Garcia said about the end of his relationship. "It was probably the first time I have been really in love.
"It took me a while to get over it."
The golfer has been looking irritable both on the course and off in recent months. He was forced to apologise last month after railing against conditions at Augusta, the home of the US Masters, which he described as "too much of a guessing game".
Speaking at Turnberry, where the British Open will be held in July, he said it had been her decision to part. He gave a deep sigh as he described his discomfort on the golf course.
"Myself, when I am not feeling happy on a golf course and not up for it, that is the way it is. You can't do anything about it. I can't do well.
"Obviously the break-up with Morgan didn't help. You get over some things. Others take a little longer.
"It was her doing, not mine, and it happened the week of Miami. It is unfortunate, one of those things. Do I still think of her all the time? No. It is pretty much back in the past now."
Casey, who is now third in the world rankings behind Americans Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson, has had love on his side.
The Englishman married late last year, an event that may have contributed to his winning three strokeplay events in the past four months and finishing runner-up in a matchplay tournament.
Thomas Bjorn, a Danish golfer, has previously remarked on the power of the newlywed effect.
"Being married is wonderful," he said. "She gives me such a lot of confidence."
Garcia's form has slumped in the weeks since the Championship event at Doral, Florida, where he tied for 31st place.
He was 77th in his next event, 38th in the Masters, and lasted only two rounds in the Quail Hollow Championship early this month.
He put up a more spirited performance at the Players Championship by finishing 22nd, but it was a poor performance compared with last year's tournament, which he won.
Garcia said at Turnberry that he had not seen Morgan-Leigh since the end of their affair. "We are still friends but no, we haven't spoken since then. We have not telephoned. Obviously, because of the situation I would rather not talk to her, because when you are trying to get over a relationship it is difficult. But I don't have a feeling of hate against her."
Earlier this week, Garcia seemed to be more cheerful. He gave his golfing partners a good-natured barracking and joked about the weather.
"I am definitely happier now than I was a couple of weeks back," he said. "I can feel it. People close to me can feel it. It is very important to me to be happy."
* Australian Open tournament operations manager Trevor Herden confirmed Golf Australia was in negotiations with 54-year-old Norman.
Norman has missed the Open in recent times because it has clashed with his Shark Shootout in the US. This year the Open (Dec 3-6) falls the week before the Shark Shootout.
However, Herden was cautious about talking up the chances of Norman returning to the Open, saying he was just one of the players GA was talking to.
"Yes, we are talking to Greg, and Adam (Scott) and Geoff (Ogilvy) and a number of the Australian players at the moment," Herden said.
"We're hoping to get confirmation from them around British Open time, when we see them. Greg couldn't play last year because the Open clashed with his own event but this year it doesn't so he may be available and we've asked him to come and play."
