Sergio Garcia has been named the 35th recipient of the coveted Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year Award.
Garcia, aged 19, who became the youngest golfer to play in the Ryder Cup after competing in only nine European Tour events as a professional, was selected by a joint panel comprising of the European Tour, the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews and the Association of Golf Writers.
Garcia becomes only the second Spanish golfer, following José Maria Olazábal in 1986, to be named the Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year which is awarded to the European golfer judged to have produced the most outstanding performance internationally in his first year as a Member of the European Tour.
Tony Jacklin (1963), Bernard Gallacher (1968), Peter Oosterhuis (1969), Sam Torrance (1972), Mark James (1976), Nick Faldo (1977), Sandy Lyle (1978), Gordon Brand Jnr (1982), José Maria Olazábal (1986), Paul Broadhurst (1990), Per-Ulrik Johansson (1991), and Thomas Björn (1996) are among those golfers to have graduated from Rookie of the Year to Ryder Cup status.
Garcia said: “It’’s a great honour to be given the Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year Award, especially when I look at the players who came before me. When I was young I really looked up to José Maria Olazábal, and it’’s great to see his name there along with other great players like Nick Faldo Sandy Lyle and Colin Montgomerie.
“I feel fortunate to have achieved so much in my first season as a professional. You can only be a rookie once, and it feels great to be the European Tour’’s Rookie of the Year.
“When I turned professional in April I had great hopes for the future but really my main objectives were to win enough money to get my cards in Europe and America. I did that and won two tournaments as well.
“For me the highlights were winning twice on the European Tour, finishing second in the US PGA Championship and playing in the Ryder Cup for the first time. The atmosphere at the US PGA Championship was incredible. I will never forget it, even though I came second to Tiger Woods. The Ryder Cup is something I will always remember. I look forward to playing many times in the future, and to being in the team at The Belfry in 2001 and helping Europe win back the Cup.
“It means a lot to be honoured by so many people who matter in the game of golf which makes this award something very special as the panel that voted represented the European Tour, the Royal and Ancient and the Association of Golf Writers.
“I know the name of Sir Henry Cotton, who was a great player from the past. Unfortunately I didn’’t get the chance to see him play. But I do know it is a genuine thrill and a privilege to win his award and follow in the footsteps of so many great players.”
Garcia, who made his professional debut in the Peugeot Open de España on April 22, played in 12 tournaments on the 1999 European Tour and won the Murphy’’s Irish Open and the Linde German Masters. He earned 1,317,693 euro (£941,209) and finished third in the Volvo Order of Merit. He is currently 15th in the Official World Golf Ranking.
