Many professional athletes have tried their hand at golf after or during their sporting careers.
Stephen Curry, Tony Romo, and John Smoltz are three examples of sporting legends who have teed off in professional events, all to varying degrees of success. Romo finished dead last on the PGA Tour, but Smoltz qualified for the senior US Open.
What’s less common, however, is a professional golfer switching to another sport. Xander Schauffele was an incredible footballer as a teenager, and Brooks Koepka looked destined for baseball, but neither have truly tried their hand in the professional game.
The same can’t be said for Sergio Garcia. The Masters champion once owned a professional team, CF Borriol, and even played in a professional match for his home country club.
How Sergio Garcia got on when he played a professional football match
In September 2010, while most of his peers were preparing for the autumn golf swing, Garcia traded his spikes for studs and stepped onto the pitch for CF Borriol.
Garcia was the club’s president and a registered player in the fourth tier of Spanish football. And he once turned up to play against Ribarroja CF.
He sat on the bench for much of the match, but came on in the 82nd minute as a substitute in the number 10 shirt. Garcia slotted in as an attacking midfielder.
Reports said that for a non-professional player, he was actually pretty good! He had a solid first touch and demonstrated good vision during his short cameo.
At 30 years old, Garcia was in good shape, but he admitted that the pace of the game was a shock to the system. He played a small part in his team’s 1-0 win despite that.
For Sergio Garcia, the decision to step onto the pitch for CF Borriol was far more than a publicity stunt; it was a deep-rooted expression of loyalty to his hometown and a lifelong obsession with football. While his professional life was defined by the solitary silence of the golf course, his heart had always belonged to the roar of the stadium.
Why Sergio Garcia decided to play for CF Borriol
Born and raised in Borriol, he grew up watching his local club struggle for visibility and funding. Garcia’s involvement in the team was an attempt to rectify that.
He took over as President and Chairman in 2006, and held that role for 12 years. He wanted to provide stability and use his golfing superstardom to attract sponsors.
Playing in this match was a way to draw attention to the club, showing his commitment to the project not only to potential investors but also to fans, players, and management.
Garcia often described himself as a “frustrated footballer.” The sport was his first love, and he famously spent his downtime at tournaments juggling a golf ball.
So kitting up for Borriol was as much for him as it was for the club, as he was able to scratch that itch, even if it was for eight minutes.
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