IT may be only early days in Open week but there’s no gentle easing in when it comes to questions from the floor. 

Sergio Garcia had barely snuggled himself into his chair in the media centre interview room yesterday when he was bowled an immediate tester. 

“What would mean more, the Green Jacket or the Claret Jug?” came the question to the reigning Masters champion, who proceeded to deliver a fairly robust puffing of the cheeks.

“That’s like saying, ‘Who do you love more, your dad or your mom?” responded the Spaniard. “At the moment the Green Jacket means more because I have it. But everybody knows how much I love the Open Championship. 

“And I would love to at least have one before I hang up the boots. But it’s a difficult question to answer.”

Garcia has flirted with Open glory numerous times down the seasons and has racked up 10 top-10s in golf’s greatest championship. 

This will be his third Open at Royal Birkdale and, arguably, it may be his best chance of winning

He hasn’t missed a cut all year, he won in Dubai, he conquered Augusta and he was second in his last start at the BMW International Open. With the small matter of a wedding to come next week, life is good for Garcia. 
Finally saying ‘I do’ to an Open Championship win would be the icing on the cake. 

“We have something that we’re also extremely excited about this week, and I want to be here giving everything and hopefully have a chance on Sunday,” he said.