Sergio Garcia burst onto the scene 26 years ago during the PGA Championship at Medinah, when the Spaniard pushed Tiger Woods all the way in the race for The Wanamaker Trophy.
Garcia, just 19 at the time, was an unknown commodity in the United States, despite his stellar amateur career where he won titles including the British Boys Championship, the British Amateur Championship and the Spanish International Amateur Championship.
Meanwhile, Woods was the most famous name in world sport. He had won The Masters back in 1997 and was on the cusp of dominating the game for the next decade.
However, after his first major win at Augusta National, Woods was still waiting for his second more than two years later when he turned up at Medinah Country Club for the PGA Championship.
The now 49-year-old was the red-hot favourite to win the final major of the year in 1999, and he began in fine form, with rounds of 70, 67 and 68 to sit at the top of the leaderboard after three rounds, tied with Mike Weir.
A teenage Garcia was slotted in two shots back of both players, after rounds of 66, 73 and 68. The final round at Medinah did not disappoint, and will go down in history as one of the most exciting finishes to a major championship in recent history.
When Sergio Garcia chased down Tiger Woods at the 1999 PGA Championship
Garcia was just 19 when he grabbed the golfing world’s attention at Medinah.
The Spaniard shot a closing round of one-under par – one better than what Woods carded.
He lost out to the now 15-time major champion by just one stroke, but it was the manner in which he played that captured everyone’s imagination.
The 2017 Masters champion played with real vigour and a certain kind of youthful exuberance that cannot be coached.
It was a real shame that he came up one stroke short in the end, but still, the 1999 PGA Championship was one that he will remember for life.
Garcia hit one of the most remarkable shots in the history of the game on the 16th hole during the final round of the PGA Championship at Medinah.
His path to the green was blocked by a huge tree but that didn’t bother Garcia, who started his shot well left of the target.
The Spanish magician put at least 50 yards of left-to-right spin on his ball, bringing it back towards the green.
Garcia actually closed his eyes at impact, and then proceeded to run after his ball down the fairway, jumping up to see if he had found the green. It was an incredible shot at a hugely important moment in the championship, and one that will never be forgotten.
Sergio Garcia’s major record
Garcia is definitely someone who should have more major wins to his name now than he actually does.
He easily could have won the 1999 PGA Championship, while he gifted the 2007 Open to Padraig Harrington.
Here are Garcia’s results in the majors throughout his career to date:
| Results | Garcia’s totals |
| Majors played | 102 |
| Wins | 1 |
| Top-5s | 13 |
| Top-10s | 23 |
| Top-25s | 39 |
| Missed cuts | 35 |
The fact that he finally broke his major duck at The Masters eight years ago would have been a huge relief to him.
Garcia’s talent is more than deserving of three or four majors, but it hasn’t happened for him.
Even taking his Masters win into account, his second-place finish at the 1999 PGA Championship may well still be the most memorable major championship of his career.