Victor Garcia and his proud Spanish golfing family

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The enduring memories I will take with me of Sergio's win at Augusta were of course his beautiful approach to 14 which hit the pin and set up the birdie, then his brilliant draw to the 15th which nearly went in for an albatross, resulting in an eagle, and of course his curling 12 footer to seal the deal in the playoff.

However the most vivid came off the course when his father Victor with tears of joy in his eyes did a joyous, impromptu interview and with the aid of a translator he proclaimed "19 years ago I caddy for him here and Jose win, (Jose Maria Olazabal) and tonight Seve is 60, he is here, he lives "

No one ever played more majors as a pro than Sergio (70) before winning one for the first time. Victor was there for every one, and has been with his son since he started swinging a stick at the age of two.

So when Sergio became the third Spaniard in a green jacket his father's thoughts immediately went to Olazabal and of course Seve, the players who have mentored Sergio throughout his life.

The Garcia's are a proud Spanish golfing family. Sergio, now 37, was born in the Spanish town of Borriol where his father was the club pro, and his mother Consuelo worked in the pro shop. In fact the story goes that she reportedly went into labor at the pro shop when she was pregnant with Sergio

He has an older brother Victor Jr., and a younger sister Mar both of whom went on golf scholarships in South Carolina and Arizona respectively, and Victor Sr., coaches them all !

We have watched Sergio growing up in front of our eyes since he was bounding up the fairway as a 19 year old at the PGA Championship, and his every pouting, ungracious, sulking comment have been reported on and duly criticized, his heart was broken after his much publicized break up with Greg Norman's daughter Morgan-Leigh.

It isn't easy to grow up in the glare of the spotlight, and Sergio wears his heart on his sleeve so his frailties were there for all to see.

For all of that I think most everyone was happy to see him donning the green jacket, he deserves it and I believe now that he is finally is amongst his peers as a major champion, a Masters no less, he will go on to win others.

However if he never wins again and goes off into the sunset with his bride to be, Angela Atkins, he will always find joy in his family led by patriarch Victor and with all the Spanish stars like Seve and Jose Maria, especially now, as the Masters champion.

Bryan Angus