Centurion Club was the scene of success last year for Nicole Garcia, as she captained her team to victory via a playoff.
Fast forward a year and the South African is hoping to replicate that win once again at the 2023 edition of the Aramco Team Series presented by PIF – London
If she were able to pull off another team victory here in London, it would be her third as she also captained her side to a win in Jeddah in November.
The unique format, which sees a 36-hole team competition held alongside a 54-hole stroke play competition, is something that Garcia clearly thrives off and she is relishing the week ahead.
“I love these team events,” she said. “I think everyone that knows me knows that I don’t shy away from a little chat.
“I love the whole concept, being able to converse with your players in that type of environment, getting excited about someone else being able to make a putt.
“It’s usually a very selfish game, so it’s really nice to be in a completely different environment and I think that environment really suits me.”
Garcia, who is this week’s guest on the LET Golf Podcast, reminisced about how she started golf, her earlier career, her hip surgery in 2019 and of course last year’s victory alongside Norway’s Madelene Stavnar, America’s Kelly Whaley and amateur Mia Baker.
The 32-year-old also spoke about how big of a role the amateur plays in these events and how well Baker contributed to the team in 2022.
“I was really proud to be a part of the winning team last year,” she explained. “At the end of the day, the Aramco Team Series is about the teams, but it’s also about including the amateur. It’s a really great concept, and I’m really glad Mia [Baker] made the putt last year to get us into the playoff.”
Garcia has had a good season to date and currently sits 33rd in the 2023 Race to Costa del Sol with one top-10 and four top-20 finishes.
She has consistently been putting herself into contention and has recently been working on her technique which will hopefully allow her to make her breakthrough individual LET win.
“I think I’ve had a decent season so far,” she added. “I’ve only missed one cut. I would have liked to have had a couple more top-10 finishes, but I suppose you can’t be too picky.
“My golf is pretty consistent but I’m really looking for that win. One thing I think is that my technique isn’t good enough to hold on under pressure. So, I’ve been working really hard on my hip motion to change that.
“I’ve got a strange move with my hips which I acquired after my hip surgery. It’s an odd move and my hips basically work the wrong way. I’m really trying to force it the other way. So that’s what I’ve been working on.”
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