Fried may refer to the frying of food. Lesser projections of the term:

People[link]

• Avraham Fried, a popular musical entertainer in the Orthodox Jewish community
• Charles Fried, a prominent conservative American jurist and lawyer
• Daisy Fried American poet
• Daniel Fried, a United States career diplomat, Ambassador and Special Envoy
• David L. Fried, a scientist, best known for his contributions to optics
• Erich Fried, a poet known for his political-minded poetry
• Ferdinand Fried, the pen-name of Ferdinand Zimmermann German economist and writer
• George Fried, an American sea captain
• Ina Fried, technology writer for CNET
• Michael Fried (art critic), an influential Modernist art critic and art historian
• Nicolás Alejandro Massú Fried (born 1979), Chilean Olympic champion tennis player
• Oskar Fried, a German conductor and composer
• Volker Fried, a former field hockey player from West Germany

Music[link]

• "Fried", a song by E-40 from his 2011 album, Revenue Retrievin': Graveyard Shift
• Fried (album), a 1984 album by Julian Cope
• Fried (band), a band made up of U.S. soul singer Jonte Short and ex-The Beat and Fine Young Cannibals guitarist David Steele

Other[link]

• Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson, a law firm
• Fried, a TV series (2000)
• Fried, a slang term for being intoxicated on street drugs, usually hallucinogens.

This disambiguation page lists articles associated with the same title. If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended article.

Avraham Shabsi Hakohen Friedman (born March 22, 1959) better known by his stage name, Avraham Fried,^[1] is a popular musical entertainer in the Orthodox Jewish community.

Career[link]

Fried was encouraged towards a music career by Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, the rebbe of Lubavitch. Fried began his career with the release of his first album "No Jew Will Be Left Behind" in 1981, featuring the song "Kel Hahodaos", written by Kol Salonica.^[2]

In the summer of 2009, Fried made a concert tour in Israel where he introduced Israeli singer and composer Chanan Yovel and featured the songs Rak T'filla and U'Nesane Tokef. His first DVD was released in December 2009.

Musical style[link]

His music is mostly categorized as pop Jewish music,^[3] similar to Mordechai ben David and tends to integrate many styles of popular music, including pop, rock and jazz, with Jewish lyrics and themes.

Personal life[link]

Fried has 6 children and lives in Crown Heights, Brooklyn.^[4] He is a Lubavitcher Hasid. His wife is of the Krasnjansky family. His brother is the Hasidic lecturer Rabbi Manis Friedman. His nephews are Jewish singers Benny Friedman, and Shmuel and Bentzi Marcus of Eighth day.

Discography[link]

• No Jew Will Be Left Behind (1981)
• The Time Is Now (1982)
• Forever One (1983)
• You're Never Alone (formerly Holyland's Greatest Hits [which includes other groups]) (1983)
• Melaveh Malka with Avraham Fried (1984)
• Goodbye Golus (1985)
• Around the Year Volume 2 (1986)
• The Good Old Days (1986)
• We Are Ready (1988)
• Around the Year Volume 3 (1989)
• Aderaba (1991)
• Yiddish Gems Volume 1 (1992)
• Hebrew Gems Volume 1 (1992)
• Shtar Hatna'im (1993)
• Yiddish Gems Volume 2 (1994)
• Hebrew Gems Volume 2 (1994)
• Bracha V'Hatzlacha (1995)
• Im Eshkachaich Yerushalayim (2 CD's) (1996)
• Hupp Cossack (1996)
• All the Best (1997)
• Chazak (1997)
• The Baal Shem Tov's Song (1998)
• My Fellow Jew - Yochid V'rabim (2001)
• Avraham Fried Live! (2001)
• Avinu Malkeinu (2003)
• Bein Kach U'vein Kach (2006)
• Niggunim of Zeide Friedman (2008)
• Yankel Yankel (2009)
• 30 Hits One Collection (2009)
• Live In Israel (2009)
• Keep Climbing (2012)

It has been reported^{[by whom?]}that he will soon release his third Yiddish album of songs by composer Yom Tov Ehrlich.

Other Solos and Singles[link]

• Vehu Rachum & Yismichu Hashamayim (Solos) [part of Eli Lipsker Albums] as a child (1967?)
• V'nikeisi Damam (Solo) [part of S'dei Chemed International vol. 1] (1971) (This is what is also heard on his album Goodbye Golus).
• V'hi Sheamdah (Solo) [part of Nichoach vol. 8] (1976)
• Arukah M'eretz Midah and Gam Ki Eileich (Singles) [part of Amudai Shaish Wedding Album], his first debut promo for the Jewish music scene (1979 or 1980). (Avraham Fried also sang solos on Amudai Shaish Volume 3.)
• V'hu K'chasan and Asher Bara/Chayim Shey'hei Lanu (Singles) [part of Suki with a Touch of Ding] (early 80s)
• Al Kein Tzion (Single) [part of Yerushalayim All-star Cast] (1983)
• Hishal'lu, Niggun, and Hashem's the World Hashem We Love (Singles) [part of Torah All-star Cast] (1985)
• Pikudei Hashem and Ki L'cha Tov (Singles) [part of Simchah All-star Cast] (1986)
• Kol Rina and Keili Atah (Singles) [part of Halel All-star Cast] (1987)
• Prok Yas Anach and Racheim B'chasdecha (Solos) [part of MBD and Friends] (1987)
• Aleh Katan Sheli - My Little Leaf (Single) (2002)
• Moriah (Single) [part of Mona 4] (2003)
• Ani Choshev Aleichem (Single) (2005)
• Galei (Single) [part of Afikoman (Oorah)] (2007)
• Ma Oshiv (Single) [part of Harei Yehudah] (2008)
• Ge'ulah Sheleimah (Single) [part of Kosher L'Pesach Bagels (Oorah)] (2008)
• Hesech Hada'as (Solo) [part of The 8th Note] (2008)
• Rak T'filla (Single) (2009)
• Haazinu (Solo, Single) (2009)
• The Song of Miracles (Single) (2009)
• Ki Hirbeisa (Single) (2010)
• Kinor (Single) [part of Shmorg 2 (Oorah)] (2010)
• Bar Yochai (Single) [part of Kdai R' Shimon Bar Yochai - Teem Productions] (2010)
• Hu Yivneh Bayis (Single) [part of Hamenagnim, Fried and Friends] (2010)
• Kama Tov Shenifgashnu (Single) (2011)

References[link]

External links[link]

• Avraham Fried Facebook Page
• Listen to 4 complete CD's for free

Zac Brown Band
Zac Brown performing at Detroit Hoedown 2010
Background information
Origin	Dahlonega, Georgia, U.S.
Genres	Country Folk rock[1] Jam band[2] Southern rock[3]
Years active	2000–present
Labels	Bigger Picture Southern Ground Atlantic
Associated acts	Blackberry Smoke, Keith Stegall, The Lost Trailers, Jimmy Buffett, Alan Jackson
Website	zacbrownband.com
Members
Coy Bowles Zac Brown Clay Cook Daniel de los Reyes Jimmy De Martini Chris Fryar John Driskell Hopkins

Zac Brown Band is an American country, Southern rock, bluegrass, reggae and folk band based in Atlanta, Georgia. The lineup consists of Zac Brown (lead vocals, guitar), Jimmy De Martini (fiddle, vocals), John Driskell Hopkins (bass guitar, vocals), Coy Bowles (guitar, keyboards), Chris Fryar (drums), Clay Cook (guitar, keyboards, mandolin, steel guitar, vocals), and Daniel de los Reyes (percussion). The band has toured throughout the United States, including a slot on the 2009 and 2010 Bonnaroo Music Festival. They have also recorded four studio albums, and charted eight Number One singles on the Billboard country charts: "Chicken Fried", "Toes", "Highway 20 Ride", "Free", "As She's Walking Away", "Colder Weather", "Knee Deep" and "Keep Me In Mind", in addition to the single "Whatever It Is," which peaked at number 2 on the same chart.

Early life[link]

Zac Brown was born July 31, 1978 in Cumming, Georgia. He was raised by his mom and step-dad, a dentist on Lake Lanier. The 11th of 12 children, Brown attended Mashburn Elementary School in Cumming, Georgia, Lakeview Academy in Gainesville, Georgia, and South Forsyth High School in Cumming. He later moved to Dahlonega, Georgia, where he graduated from Lumpkin County High School. He learned to play classical guitar at the age of 6. As a teenager, he played solo gigs in local venues, performing country and pop cover songs. “Most of my brothers and sisters are older—the oldest is 21 years older than me—so a lot of them were in college or had families of their own by the time I was growing up," said Zac Brown in a interview, but that left him time to bond with his family. Because of this, he was able to learn many things as a child growing up, such as shotgun shooting and playing instruments.

College[link]

Brown attended the University of West Georgia, where he was a member of the Zeta Kappa chapter of the Kappa Alpha Order fraternity. He was also a camp counselor at Camp Mikell in Toccoa, Ga. & Camp Glisson, a United Methodist summer camp located in Dahlonega, GA.^[4] While in college, he started a band and played dates in local restaurants with the band, and solo as well, to earn money to pay for school.

During this time, the band recorded an album to sell at their gigs, but disbanded during recording sessions. On September 11, 2001, after the terrorist attacks occurred, Brown decided that life was too short doing something that he did not enjoy, so he withdrew from school that day and decided to pursue music full-time.^[5]

Formation[link]

In 2002, the Zac Brown Band was formed and they began traveling with a heavy tour schedule of approximately 200 dates a year. The initial Zac Brown Band lineup consisted of Brown, on acoustic guitar and lead vocals, backed by a drummer and a bass guitarist. In 2003, Brown started his own label, called Home Grown (today, it is called Southern Ground for legal reasons).

In 2004, Brown opened a music club and restaurant with his father in the Lake Oconee area of Georgia called "Zac's Place" where the fare was southern-style cooking. A developer bought the restaurant and, in turn, the Zac Brown Band bought a tour bus and began touring full-time, playing rock and country clubs as well as folk and jam band festivals. 2004 also saw the release of the Zac Brown Band's first independent album, Far from Einstyne.

It was also in 2004 when Brown added violinist/fiddler and tenor vocalist Jimmy De Martini to the Zac Brown Band, thus beginning Brown's five-year quest to develop the band's current lineup. According to an interview with De Martini, he explained that Wyatt Durette, Brown's frequent songwriting collaborator, was working as a bartender at Sidelines Sports Bar in Kennesaw, Georgia at the time, where the Zac Brown Band frequently performed. Durette suggested De Martini to Brown, who was wanting a "lead instrument" in his band, as well as a harmony singer. After doing several performances with the band at the club, Brown asked De Martini to become a full-time member, to which he gladly obliged.^[6]

In 2005, the Zac Brown Band released its second independent album, Home Grown. That same year, John Driskell Hopkins joined the band as its bass guitarist and baritone vocalist. Hopkins, who was well known in the Atlanta area as the leader of the band Brighter Shade, first met Brown in 1998 at an open mic event hosted by Hopkins and they remained friends since. Additionally, Hopkins also co-produced the Zac Brown Band's Home Grown album.^[7]

In 2006, the Zac Brown Band recorded The Foundation with producer Keith Stegall. It was also in 2006 when Coy Bowles joined the band alternating on guitar and keyboards. Bowles and Brown first met in the late 1990s when they were both students at the University of West Georgia, where Bowles was studying biology. Bowles also vividly remembers seeing Brown perform for the first time. He explains, "I walked into a restaurant and Zac was singing and playing guitar. I heard a couple tunes and turned to my buddy and said, 'That dude might have the richest and loudest voice I ever heard!' I don’t even think Zac had a microphone and you could hear him all across the bar.”

Bowles then transferred to Atlanta's Georgia State University to study music. He subsequently became involved in Atlanta's various music scenes, and eventually formed Coy Bowles and the Fellowship in 2004. Two years later, Bowles decided to reconnect with Brown. Through mutual friends, he learned that the Zac Brown Band was scheduled to perform in Atlanta one evening. Bowles and Brown spent the afternoon prior to the performance reacquainting with each other, which ended with Brown inviting Bowles to sit in with the Zac Brown Band at that night's performance, which Bowles gladly accepted. To return the favor, Bowles invited the band to attend his own gig with the Fellowship a couple of months later, which in turn resulted in Brown and his band sitting in at that gig.

This turn of events continued for eight months until Bowles concluded that it was too overwhelming to balance his time with Brown's band and his own band and other activities, thus making a difficult decision to put the Fellowship on an indefinite hiatus and become a full-time member of the Zac Brown Band, as that was what he enjoyed the most.^[8][9]

In 2008, the Zac Brown Band signed to Live Nation Artists Records (in association with Brown's own Home Grown label), but not before Chris Fryar became yet another addition to the band. An Alabama native, Fryar attended North Texas State University and the Mississippi University for Women and made a name for himself in the Birmingham music scene.^[10] According to Fryar, a mutual friend recommended him to Brown, who was in need of a new drummer for the band. Fryar, who in turn had just finished a stint with a previous band, subsequently auditioned and shortly afterward became the Zac Brown Band's newest member.^[11]

Commercial success[link]

The Zac Brown Band's debut single, "Chicken Fried", was originally recorded in 2003 and included on the Home Grown album, but later re-recorded and released to country radio in 2008. This song was also recorded by The Lost Trailers, whose 2006 recording was released as a single but withdrawn after Brown decided that he wanted to release it himself.^[12] Brown also co-wrote "Simple Life", a song recorded by The Lost Trailers on their 2006 self-titled album.

In October 2008, Atlantic Records took over distribution of "Chicken Fried" after Live Nation Artists closed. The band's album The Foundation was released under Atlantic Records' newly re-established country division in association with the Home Grown/Big Picture label on November 18 of that year.^[13] "Chicken Fried" reached #1 on the country charts that same month, making them the first country band to reach #1 with a debut single since Heartland did so in 2006 with "I Loved Her First."^[14]

Inclusion of Clay Cook[link]

In January 2009, two months after "Chicken Fried" went to #1, Atlanta native Clay Cook joined the Zac Brown Band as its multi-instrumentalist and high tenor vocalist, thus completing the band's lineup. Cook had previously collaborated with John Mayer and Shawn Mullins, and was also a member of the Marshall Tucker Band for two years prior to joining the Zac Brown Band. According to Cook, he and Brown actually both attended and graduated from high school together, but were never acquainted with each other during that period. He explains how he first met Brown:

Brown himself admits his strong desire to add Cook to the lineup, for he believed Cook's musicianship would enhance the Zac Brown Band's overall musical style:

Cook also explained his intention to leave the Marshall Tucker Band in order to join the Zac Brown Band:

With the final Zac Brown Band lineup completed, the band released its second single, "Whatever It Is," which went to #2. In October 2009, a third single, "Toes," became the band's second Number One. The album's fourth single, and third #1, was "Highway 20 Ride". "Free" was the album's fifth single and on the week of August 21, 2010, it also peaked at Number One.

Inclusion of Daniel de los Reyes[link]

On April 25, 2012, it was announced via the Zac Brown Band's website that percussionist Daniel de los Reyes had joined the band on a permanent basis. De los Reyes had previously performed with the band as a touring musician and participated in the recording of their upcoming album Uncaged. De los Reyes has also performed with artists and groups such as Earth, Wind and Fire, Jennifer Lopez and Sting.^[18]

Awards[link]

Zac Brown Band has earned more than 50 GRAMMY, ACM, AMA, CMA, and CMT award nominations since 2009.^[19]

They have received four nominations for the 2009 CMA Awards: New Artist of the Year, Song of the Year, Single of the Year, and Music Video of the Year for their #1 single, "Chicken Fried". That same year, they received three Grammy nominations for Best Country Album, Best Country Performance By a Duo or Group With Vocals and Best New Artist. On January 31, 2010, the band won the Grammy award for Best New Artist.

The group was also nominated in 2009 for three ACM awards, "Album of the Year", "Top Vocal Group", and was one of eight contenders for "Entertainer of the Year".^{[citation needed]}

The Zac Brown Band led the nominees for the 46th annual Academy of Country Music Awards 2011, with a total of nine nominations including: Top Vocal Group of the Year, Album of the Year, Single Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Vocal Event of the Year.^[20]

Collaborations and appearances[link]

The band is known to cover songs by their major musical influences in concert, with notable songs including Come Pick Me Up by Ryan Adams, The Devil Went Down To Georgia by Charlie Daniels, I Shall Be Released by Bob Dylan, The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down by The Band, Blackbird by The Beatles, Into The Mystic by Van Morrison, One Love by Bob Marley, Killing in the Name by Rage Against the Machine and Can't You See by The Marshall Tucker Band. On their 2010 Live benefit album Pass the Jar, these songs were included in their setlist.

Along with recent commercial success, the band has made appearances at The Hangout Music Festival, Hullabalou Music Festival and the Bonnaroo Music Festival in 2006, 2009, and 2010 along with an opening slot for the Dave Matthews Band during their 2010 Summer Tour. Also, after several years as perennial favorites on the annual The Rock Boat theme-cruise, the Zac Brown Band has been elevated to hosting their own theme-cruise, Sailing Southern Ground, in September 2010.

In 2011, the Zac Brown Band and Blackberry Smoke did a tour of sold out concerts at venues and amphitheaters including Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, CA.^[21]

Zac Brown Band was also a headliner at the 2010 Detroit Hoedown.

Jimmy Buffett, Duane Cahill, Aaron Carman and guitar virtuoso Tony Rice join Alan Jackson as special guests on the new Zac Brown Band album, "You Get What You Give," which was released on September 21, 2010.^[22]

Zac Brown Band appeared at the Country Music Association Awards on November 10, 2010, performing As She's Walking Away.^[23]

Zac Brown Band appeared as special guests for Kings of Leon at London’s Hyde Park on June 22, 23 and at Edinburgh’s Murrayfield Stadium on June 26.

Zac Brown Band appeared at Ft. Stewart, Georgia and played a free concert for soldiers and family members on July 4, 2011 to a crowd of over 24,000.

Discography[link]

Awards and nominations[link]

References[link]

External links[link]

• Official Site
• Zac Brown Band at Billboard.com

Johnny Brady (born 1 January 1948) is a former Irish Fianna Fáil politician. He was a Teachta Dála (TD) from 1997 to 2007 for the Meath and Meath West constituencies.^[1]

Brady was first elected to Dáil Éireann at the 1997 general election for the former constituency of Meath and was re-elected at the 2002 general election. He is a former Chairperson of Meath County Council. Brady was re-elected at the 2007 general election for the constituency of Meath West.^[2]

In February 2011 Brady, who as chairman of the Oireachtas Agriculture Committee received an extra €20,000 on top of his €100,000 annual salary along with €70,000 in expenses, claimed he was "no better off" than when he was a councillor in 1974 on a salary of £6.^[3][4] Fine Gael's Alan Shatter commented: "it is perverse an elected member of the party that got us into this situation should whinge about his €100,000 salary, perhaps a stint in the real world will remind him of the struggles that people are facing".^[5]

He lost his seat at the 2011 general election.^[2]

References[link]

This article about a Fianna Fáil politician is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. v t e

Sergio García
Personal information
Full name	Sergio García
Nickname	El Niño
Born	(1980-01-09) 9 January 1980 (age 32) Borriol, Castellón, Spain
Height	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Weight	160 lb (73 kg; 11 st)
Nationality	Spain
Residence	Borriol, Castellón, Spain
Career
Turned professional	1999
Current tour(s)	European Tour (joined 1999) PGA Tour (joined 1999)
Professional wins	22
Number of wins by tour
PGA Tour	7
European Tour	10 (tied 25th all time)
Best results in Major Championships
Masters Tournament	T4: 2004
U.S. Open	T3: 2005
The Open Championship	2nd: 2007
PGA Championship	2nd/T2: 1999, 2008
Achievements and awards
Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year	1999
Vardon Trophy	2008
Byron Nelson Award	2008

Sergio García Fernández (born 9 January 1980) is a Spanish professional golfer who plays on both the United States PGA Tour and the European Tour. He has spent much of his career in the top 10 of the Official World Golf Rankings (over 300 weeks between 2000 and 2009^[1][2]). He reached a career high ranking of two after winning the HSBC Champions tournament in November 2008.

Career outline[link]

Junior and amateur golf[link]

García began playing golf at the age of three and was taught by his father, Victor, who is a club professional. He was a star player as a junior, winning his club championship at age 12. Four years later, he set a record as the youngest player to make the cut at a European Tour event, the 1995 Turespaña Open Mediterranea. This record was broken by amateur Jason Hak in November 2008 at the UBS Hong Kong Open, beating García's record by 107 days. Also in 1995, García became the youngest player^[3] to win the European Amateur. He followed that with a win in the Boys Amateur Championship in 1997. He won a professional tournament, the 1997 Catalonian Open, on the European Challenge Tour, as an amateur. In 1998 he won The Amateur Championship, and reached the semifinals of the U.S. Amateur.

Early professional years[link]

García turned professional in 1999 after shooting the lowest amateur score in the 1999 Masters Tournament. His first title on the European Tour came in his sixth start as a professional, in July 1999 at the Irish Open. He first achieved worldwide prominence with a duel against Tiger Woods in the 1999 PGA Championship, where he eventually finished second. Late in the final round, García hit his most famous shot: with his ball up against a tree trunk in the right rough on the 16th hole, and the green hidden from view, he swung hard with his eyes shut and hit a low curving fade that ran up onto the green. As the shot traveled, he sprinted madly into the fairway and then scissor-kick jumped to see the result. Shortly afterwards he became the youngest player ever to compete in the Ryder Cup.

When García first turned professional, he had an unorthodox swing with a loop and large lag, and this method drew comparisons to the legendary Ben Hogan, one of the best players of all time. But during the 2003 season, he worked towards making his swing more conventional, but has largely kept his original method. In his early years, he repeatedly gripped, released, and regripped his hands on the club handle before finally taking a shot. This "waggle" habit created a stir, especially at the 2002 U.S. Open when some spectators shouted out, "Hit the ball, Sergio!", and some people audibly counted the number of regrips into the twenties. Since then he has eliminated the habit. Responding to criticism of his swing, he said, "My swing works for me, so why should I change it? I prefer to have a natural swing and play well rather than a perfect swing and not be able to play good."^[4]

PGA Tour titles[link]

García won his first PGA Tour tournament at age 21 at the 2001 MasterCard Colonial in Fort Worth, Texas and then won again at the Buick Classic the same year. He was the youngest Tour winner since Woods in 1996 at age 20. In 2002, he won the Mercedes Championships, and in 2004, he won the EDS Byron Nelson Championship and the Buick Classic for the second time. His sixth PGA Tour victory came at the 2005 Booz Allen Classic. He also plays a limited schedule on the European Tour, where he has won nine times. In 2002, during a practice round, García made an albatross (double eagle) on the par-5 second hole at the Masters, one of the few players to have ever done so. On the 575-yard hole at the Augusta National Golf Club, he holed a 253-yard 2-iron following a 325-yard drive.

Ryder Cup star[link]

García was a member of the European Ryder Cup team in 1999, 2002, 2004, 2006, and 2008 and holds an impressive career record at the Ryder Cup of 14–6–4.^[5] As three of his appearances have resulted in overall victories, his input in the team has proved invaluable. He had risen into the top five of the Official World Golf Rankings, but after an inconsistent 2006 season, he dropped out of the top 10.

García in 2004

In the 2006 Ryder Cup, at the K Club in Ireland, García won both his fourball and foursome matches (with José María Olazábal and Luke Donald, respectively) on day one, beating David Toms and Brett Wetterich in the fourballs and Tiger Woods and Jim Furyk in the foursomes. On day two, he paired up with Olazábal again, who won both their matches against Phil Mickelson and Chris DiMarco in both the foursomes and fourballs. Going into the final day in the singles, García was heavily tipped to be the first person to win all their matches in one Ryder Cup; however, Stewart Cink beat him 4 and 3. Europe won the cup again, with 18½ points to the United States' 9½ points.

Near-misses at majors[link]

Earlier in 2007, García had encountered criticism when he spit in the cup during the WGC-CA Championship after three-putting.^[6] After missing the cut of the first two major championships in 2007, García found success at The Open Championship -– his favorite of the four majors -– at Carnoustie Golf Links. He held the lead after each one of the first three rounds and carried a three-shot lead over Steve Stricker and a six-shot lead over the rest of the field into the start of the fourth day. At an early stage of the last round, he had extended the lead to four shots, but bogeys at the 5th, 7th, and 8th holes brought him back to the field. On the final challenging hole, he needed a par to win, but failed to get up and down from the greenside bunker. The last putt on the 18th hole on Sunday, from about eight feet, would have given him his first professional major. He missed it by a fraction and faced a playoff with Pádraig Harrington that he eventually lost by one stroke. In his post-round news conference, García seemed to suggest that bad breaks had cost him the championship. During the playoff, on the long par-3 16th hole, his tee shot hit the flagstick but then bounced 20 feet from the pin, off the green, and García could not convert for birdie. "It's not the first time, unfortunately," he stated. "I don't know... I'm playing against a lot of guys out there, more than the field." In the 2007 PGA Championship, he was disqualified after signing an incorrect scorecard after the third round.^[7]

Wins The Players Championship[link]

García winning the 2008 Players Championship

On 11 May 2008, García won The Players Championship on the PGA Tour in a playoff against Paul Goydos. On the first playoff hole, the 17th, Goydos hit a pitching wedge that ballooned and fell inches short of the green and into the water, while García played a sand wedge to within four feet of the hole. Goydos made double bogey while García made par for the win.^[8]

More major frustration[link]

At the 2008 PGA Championship, played over the South Course of Oakland Hills Country Club, he narrowly missed out winning his first professional major championship yet again. Like at the 2007 Open Championship, Pádraig Harrington was able to erase a García lead on the back nine to take the title. García would finish two strokes back for his second runner-up finish at the PGA Championship. His most serious mistake during the final round was misjudging his second shot on the 16th, playing into a strong wind, which found the water in front of the par-4 hole's green, costing him sole ownership of the lead.^[9] Regarding another near-miss in a major championship, García stated, "I felt like I responded well, and he was obviously very good on the back nine, and things just happened his way."

Career high in rankings[link]

On 26 October 2008, he won his first European Tour title in over three years, at the first playing of the Castelló Masters Costa Azahar at his home course, the Club de Campo del Mediterráneo in Castellón, Spain. With this win, he rose to a career high of third in the Official World Golf Rankings.^[10] He dedicated the victory to compatriot Seve Ballesteros, who was recovering from multiple operations on a brain tumor. He won the 2008 HSBC Champions, the opening event on the 2009 European Tour season on 9 November 2008 in a playoff over Oliver Wilson. This win notched him up to a career high second in the Official World Golf Rankings, replacing Phil Mickelson in that spot, who had ironically won the HSBC Champions in 2007. García earned more money than any other golfer in 2008, earning $6,979,959 in 26 events.^[11]

Slump, competitive break[link]

After his success in 2008, García had a very disappointing season in 2009, rarely contending and finished ranked 74th on the PGA Tour money list. He had more success on the European Tour where he finished tenth in the inaugural Race to Dubai. His slump continued into 2010, and after the USA PGA Championship García announced he was taking a break from golf and would miss the 2010 Ryder Cup. He also dropped out of the top 50 of the Official World Golf Rankings. Struggles with the putter were the primary cause of his slump, since his ballstriking remained among the best in the world. On the 29 August 2010, European Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie announced that García would be his fourth vice captain for the 2010 Ryder Cup at Celtic manor.

Return to form[link]

García returned to competitive play late in 2010 with a new putting grip, the so-called 'paintbrush' or 'saw' grip, and this produced better results for him on the greens. After 36 holes, he was near the lead in both at the 2011 Transitions Championship and the 2011 Byron Nelson Championship, but both times faded on the weekend to fall out of contention.^[12]

García had to withdraw from qualifying for the 2011 British Open because of an infected finger. He had originally planned against qualifying for the 2011 U.S. Open, where he was outside the top-50 in the OWGR and was not guaranteed automatic entry. He eventually earned a spot in the U.S. Open after being one of the top four at a qualifying tournament near Memphis. García played well in all four rounds of the U.S. Open, ending in a tie for seventh place at five-under par 279.^[13] Garcia finished tied for ninth place in The 2011 Open Championship at Royal St George's. This was his 17th career top-10 finish in a major.

In late June 2011, García almost broke his winless streak dating back to 2008, when he lost at the fifth sudden-death playoff hole to fellow Spaniard Pablo Larrazábal at the BMW International Open. García led the tournament after the 11th hole of the final round with a stunning stretch of holes, which saw him produce three birdies and two eagles in six holes, from holes six to eleven. However his charge to the finish was derailed by four bogeys in five holes, leaving him needing a birdie at the last to make the playoff. In the playoff, both players made consecutive birdies at the first two extra holes (both par 5s) before parring holes three and four (both par 3s). At the fifth extra hole, Garcia had a 30-foot eagle putt for the victory, but ran the effort four feet past the hole. The resulting putt lipped out, allowing Larrazábal to hole a two-foot birdie putt for the victory.^[14] Despite this, García ensured qualification for the 2011 Open Championship at Royal St George's with his runner-up finish, through the current form money list exemption. García went on to finish tied for 9th place at the Open Championship, his best finish for four years. He continued the run at the 2011 PGA Championship where he finished in a tie for 12th place, extending his streak to 50 consecutive majors played, the longest streak among active players.

In October 2011, García ended a three year title drought with back-to-back wins in his home country at the Castelló Masters and the Andalucía Masters. García won the Castelló Masters in dominant fashion, with a final score of 27-under-par, 11 strokes ahead of the field. It was the joint third highest victory margin on the European Tour, beaten only by Tiger Woods' 15 stroke victory at the 2000 U.S. Open and Ernie Els' 13 stroke win at the 2005 BMW Asian Open. After the win, García dedicated it to the late Seve Ballesteros, stating "That was for Seve.".^[15]

The following week, García won the Andalucía Masters, played at the Club de Golf Valderrama, arguably regarded as one of the toughest golf courses on the European Tour. He edged out fellow countryman Miguel Ángel Jiménez by one shot after a tense final round.^[16] Following his back-to-back wins, García moved back into the top 20 of the Official World Golf Ranking.

Personal life[link]

Garcia is currently a bachelor. One of his most notable ex-girlfriends is former world number-one tennis player Martina Hingis, who helped him cope with the emotional side of the game.^[17] He has also had an on-and-off relationship with Greg Norman's daughter, Morgan-Leigh Norman, a graduate of Boston College;^[18][19][20] however, Garcia has confirmed the couple have now separated.^[21] However, García and Greg Norman are designing a new golf course in San Antonio.^[22]

Additionally, he keeps a close friendship with the Uruguayan football player Diego Forlán. They first met in Castelló when the latter was playing for the nearby La Liga club Villarreal.^[23] More recently, he has developed a close rapport with young Colombian star golfer Camilo Villegas, with the two often dining together at night and ribbing one another .^[21] Also, Garcia has a close friendship with world tennis star Rafael Nadal.

Golf equipment[link]

Sergio Garcia at the 2009 Telus World Skins Game in Lévis, Canada

García has an endorsement deal with TaylorMade-adidas Golf,^[24] and uses all TaylorMade equipment, and adidas shoes and clothing. His equipment setup is as follows:

• Driver: TaylorMade R11 9°, Aldila RIP Beta 90 Shaft
• Fairway Woods: TaylorMade Burner Superfast 2.0 (15°, 18°) Aldila RIP Beta 90 Shafts
• Irons: TaylorMade Tour Preferred Muscle Back Irons (3-PW), Royal Precision Rifle Project X 6.5 shafts
• Wedges: TaylorMade rac z TP 50°, 58°
• Putter: TaylorMade Rossa TP Ghost Maranello
• Ball: TaylorMade Penta TP
• Rangefinder: Bushnell Slope Edition (Sponsored by Bushnell)

There is also unofficial video documentation of a press conference where Snell speaks on the new TP balls while García demonstrates some shots.^[25]

Professional wins (22)[link]

PGA Tour wins (7)[link]

No.	Date	Tournament	Winning Score	Margin of Victory	Runner(s)-up
1	20 May 2001	MasterCard Colonial	-13 (69–69–66–63=267)	2 strokes	Brian Gay, Phil Mickelson
2	24 Jun 2001	Buick Classic	-16 (68–67–66–67=268)	3 strokes	Scott Hoch
3	6 Jan 2002	Mercedes Championships	-18 (73–69–68–64=274)	Playoff	David Toms
4	16 May 2004	EDS Byron Nelson Championship	-10 (66–68–65–71=270)	Playoff	Robert Damron, Dudley Hart
5	13 Jun 2004	Buick Classic	-12 (70–67–68–67=272)	Playoff	Pádraig Harrington, Rory Sabbatini
6	12 Jun 2005	Booz Allen Classic	-14 (71–68–66–65=270)	2 strokes	Ben Crane, Davis Love III, Adam Scott
7	11 May 2008	The Players Championship	-5 (66–73–73–71=283)	Playoff	Paul Goydos

PGA Tour playoff record (4–5)

No.	Year	Tournament	Opponent(s)	Result
1	2001	The Tour Championship	Mike Weir, David Toms, Ernie Els	Weir won with birdie on first extra hole
2	2002	Mercedes Championships	David Toms	Won with birdie on first extra hole
3	2004	EDS Byron Nelson Championship	Dudley Hart, Robert Damron	Won with par on first extra hole
4	2004	Buick Classic	Rory Sabbatini, Pádraig Harrington	Won with birdie on third extra hole Harrington eliminated with par on second hole
5	2005	Wachovia Championship	Vijay Singh, Jim Furyk	Singh won with par on fourth extra hole Garcia eliminated with par on first hole
6	2007	The Open Championship	Pádraig Harrington	Lost four hole playoff Harrington (3–3–4–5=15), García (5–3–4–4=16)
7	2008	The Players Championship	Paul Goydos	Won with par on first extra hole
8	2008	The Barclays	Vijay Singh, Kevin Sutherland	Singh won with birdie on second extra hole Sutherland eliminated with par on first hole
9	2008	The Tour Championship	Camilo Villegas	Villegas won with par on first extra hole

European Tour wins (10)[link]

No.	Date	Tournament	Winning Score	Margin of Victory	Runner(s)-up
1	4 Jul 1999	Murphy's Irish Open	-16 (69–68–67–64=268)	3 strokes	Ángel Cabrera
2	3 Oct 1999	Linde German Masters	-11 (68–69–72–68=277)	Playoff	Pádraig Harrington, Ian Woosnam
3	23 Sep 2001	Trophée Lancôme	-18 (68–65–68–65=266)	1 stroke	Retief Goosen
4	28 Apr 2002	Canarias Open de Espana	-13 (67–68–67–73=275)	4 strokes	Emanuele Canonica
5	17 Oct 2004	Mallorca Classic	-12 (66–67–68–67=268)	4 strokes	Simon Khan
6	4 Sep 2005	Omega European Masters	-14 (66–65–71–68=270)	1 stroke	Peter Gustafsson
7	26 Oct 2008	Castelló Masters Costa Azahar	-20 (66–65–66–67=264)	3 strokes	Peter Hedblom
8	9 Nov 2008	HSBC Champions (co-sanctioned with Asian Tour)	-14 (66–68–72–68=274)	Playoff	Oliver Wilson
9	23 Oct 2011	Castelló Masters	-27 (67-63-64-63=257)	11 strokes	Gonzalo Fernández-Castaño
10	30 Oct 2011	Andalucía Masters	-6 (70-70-67-71=278)	1 stroke	Miguel Ángel Jiménez

European Tour playoff record (2–4)

No.	Year	Tournament	Opponent(s)	Result
1	1999	Linde German Masters	Padraig Harrington, Ian Woosnam	Won with birdie on second extra hole Woosnam eliminated with par on first hole
2	2001	Greg Norman Holden International	Aaron Baddeley	Lost to birdie on first extra hole
3	2004	Volvo Masters Andalucia	Ian Poulter	Lost to par on first extra hole
4	2007	The Open Championship	Pádraig Harrington	Lost four hole playoff Harrington (3–3–4–5=15), García (5–3–4–4=16)
5	2008	HSBC Champions	Oliver Wilson	Won with birdie on second extra hole
6	2011	BMW International Open	Pablo Larrazábal	Lost to birdie on fifth extra hole

Other wins (5)[link]

• 1997 Catalonian Open Championship (Spain – not a European Tour event)
• 2001 Nedbank Golf Challenge (South Africa – unofficial event)
• 2002 Kolon Cup Korean Open (Asian Tour)
• 2003 Nedbank Golf Challenge (South Africa – unofficial event)
• 2010 Gary Player Invitational (with John Cook)

Results in major championships[link]

LA = Low Amateur
DNP = did not play
CUT = missed the half way cut
"T" = tied
DQ = disqualified
Yellow background for top-10.

Results in World Golf Championship events[link]

¹Cancelled due to 9/11
DNP = Did not play
QF, R16, R32, R64 = Round in which player lost in match play
"T" = tied
NT = No tournament
Yellow background for top-10.
Note that the HSBC Champions did not become a WGC event until 2009.

Team appearances[link]

Amateur

• Eisenhower Trophy: 1996, 1998
• St Andrews Trophy: 1996, 1998
• Junior Ryder Cup: 1995 (winners), 1997
• Jacques Léglise Trophy: 1994, 1995, 1996 (winners), 1997, 1998

Professional

• Ryder Cup (representing Europe): 1999, 2002 (winners), 2004 (winners), 2006 (winners), 2008, 2010 (non-playing vice-captain, winners)
• Alfred Dunhill Cup (representing Spain): 1999 (winners)
• Seve Trophy (representing Continental Europe): 2000 (winners), 2003
• World Cup (representing Spain): 2001, 2004, 2005, 2009

See also[link]

• Golfers with most European Tour wins
• Golfers with most PGA Tour wins
• Monday Night Golf

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Sergio Garcia

• Official website
• Fan Site
• Sergio García at the European Tour official site
• Sergio García at the PGA Tour official site
• Sergio García at the Official World Golf Ranking official site
• ESPN Profile
• Interview – The Observer, 8 October 2006

Sergio García in the Ryder Cup v t e European Ryder Cup team – 1999 Darren Clarke · Andrew Coltart · Sergio García · Pádraig Harrington · Miguel Ángel Jiménez · Paul Lawrie · Colin Montgomerie · José María Olazábal · Jesper Parnevik · Jarmo Sandelin · Jean van de Velde · Lee Westwood Mark James (non-playing captain) Lost: 13.5 – 14.5 v t e European Ryder Cup team – 2002 Thomas Bjørn · Darren Clarke · Niclas Fasth · Pierre Fulke · Sergio García · Pádraig Harrington · Bernhard Langer · Paul McGinley · Colin Montgomerie · Jesper Parnevik · Phillip Price · Lee Westwood Sam Torrance (non-playing captain) Won: 15.5 – 12.5 v t e European Ryder Cup team – 2004 Paul Casey · Darren Clarke · Luke Donald · Sergio García · Pádraig Harrington · David Howell · Miguel Ángel Jiménez · Thomas Levet · Paul McGinley · Colin Montgomerie · Ian Poulter · Lee Westwood Bernhard Langer (non-playing captain) Won: 18.5 – 9.5 v t e European Ryder Cup team – 2006 Paul Casey · Darren Clarke · Luke Donald · Sergio García · Pádraig Harrington · David Howell · Robert Karlsson · Paul McGinley · Colin Montgomerie · José María Olazábal · Henrik Stenson · Lee Westwood Ian Woosnam (non-playing captain) Won: 18.5 – 9.5 v t e European Ryder Cup team – 2008 Paul Casey · Sergio García · Søren Hansen · Pádraig Harrington · Miguel Ángel Jiménez · Robert Karlsson · Graeme McDowell · Ian Poulter · Justin Rose · Henrik Stenson · Lee Westwood · Oliver Wilson Nick Faldo (non-playing captain) Lost: 11.5 – 16.5