Sergio Garcia has eclipsed Sir Nick Faldo as the all-time leading points scorer for Team Europe at the Ryder Cup after his victory over Rickie Fowler on Sunday.
A 2 & 1 win over Fowler took Garcia to 25.5 points since making his debut in 1999 and now half a point ahead of England’s Faldo. The singles win was one of three points accrued this week as Europe regained the trophy at Le Golf National.
‘It’s about the team and I’m happy that I was able to help. I’m happy that I was able to help with some of the points. It’s a bonus,’ he said shortly after Francesco Molinari had sealed the team’s victory.
‘It’s something that I never thought I would have the possibility of doing it, and now that it’s happened, you know, I’m just so happy. I mean, these guys are unbelievable.’
After a poor season which included a win in Singapore early in the year and then a host of missed cuts including in his defence of his Masters title, the Spaniard needed a captain’s pick to make the team. He then went on to miss the three remaining Majors to put his participation in France in doubt.
‘Well, I feel like I’ve been just a little bit off. I haven’t been that bad. Just it’s been one of those years that nothing seemed to happen. But you know, I played well in Greensboro.
‘Felt like something was happening. I played really well last week in Portugal and you know, I rested a little bit which was nice. I needed that to play with the energy that the Ryder Cup deserved, and you know, I’m so happy that I was able to play as well, not only myself, but the whole team, as well as we did.’
Faldo took to Twitter to congratulate the new record holder.
‘Congrats Sergio, great playing this week. I was very proud to hang onto that record for 21 years!’ he wrote.
