Sergio Garcia's Masters mood different as co-leader

The Masters Tournament might have regained a little of Sergio Garcia’s favor Thurs­day.

Garcia shot a bogey-free, 6-under-par 66 to finish the first round in a tie with the day’s early leader, Marc Leishman. It’s not a bad spot to be in for a guy who last year declared himself incapable
of ever winning a major.

“Obviously it’s probably not my most favorite place,” Garcia said of Augusta Na­tion­al Golf Club. “But we try to enjoy it as much as we can every time we come here. Some­times it comes out better than others. But today was one of those good days, and let’s enjoy it while it lasts.”

Garcia ranked his first 10 holes Thursday as the best 10 he has ever played at Augusta National. The stretch included birdies on Nos. 1, 3, 6, 9 and 10.

He didn’t go much lower through the final eight holes, though he did birdie the par-5 No. 15 and had notable par saves on Nos. 11 and 17.

“I played extremely well the first 10 holes, and then I struggled with a couple tee shots here and there the last six or seven holes,” Garcia said. “But I managed to make two really good par saves, so overall what I’m going to try to take to my pillow tonight is the first 10 holes.”

A year ago, Garcia shot
4-under 68 in the second round and was tied for third. The next day he put himself largely out of contention with 3-over 75 and eventually finished tied for 12th, eight strokes from the lead.

“In 13 years, I’ve come to the conclusion that I need to play for second or third place,” Garcia said after last year’s third round. … In any major.

“I’m not good enough.”

Fresh off Thursday’s round, Garcia was quick to dismiss the sentiment as a byproduct of his frustrations.

“I think that, at the end of the day, we go through moments – tough moments and frustrating moments – and it was one of them,” he said. “Obviously, maybe I didn’t say it the right way, because it was one of those frustrating moments.”

He said he will continue to play with confidence.

“Every time I tee off in a tournament it’s to play the best I can and have a chance at winning, so it doesn’t change this week,” Garcia said.