Garcia hoping for a major season

Sergio Garcia's high hopes for 2006 are that he will finally end his long wait for a first major and help Europe to yet another Ryder Cup win.

But going into his first event of the season - the Mercedes Championship in Hawaii - the world number six has still not dismissed the possibility that he might ask Ian Woosnam to leave him out of his line-up for the K Club near Dublin in September.

Garcia lies second in the points standings behind Colin Montgomerie, but said: "If I feel I'm not going to be able to help the team because of the state of my game I'd definitely consider talking to the captain and saying 'You know, I don't think I'm going to be a good thing for the team. Maybe this guy deserves it more than I do.'

"I don't think it's going to be the case because hopefully I'll be playing well."

Asked if it might apply should he win the Masters then miss every cut for the following four months Garcia joked: "I might, yeah. If I miss every cut after that I'll probably kill myself!.

I don't know, there's things that are possible - it's something that is out there. (But) I don't think it's going to happen."

Victory this weekend in an event lacking seven of the world's top 10 and containing only 28 players - all winners on the US Tour last year - would virtually guarantee Garcia one of the 10 automatic places in Woosnam's side.

It would also be the perfect pre-birthday gift. He is 26 next Monday.