The young conquistador

Where school-going friends were absorbed with Cervantes, Sergio Garcia could readily quote passages from another illustrious Spaniard. In fact, his speciality was the speech delivered by Seve Ballesteros on winning a third British Open at Royal Lytham in 1988.

"I was 13 at the time and learned it from a friend," he said yesterday. "Yes, every word."

That was six years ago, when he understood very little English. But Garcia showed himself to be admirably equipped for a life on tour when he faced the media here.

In a period that is regularly producing players of extraordinary talent, Garcia is the latest arrival. And apart from the status of British Amateur champion, his credentials are extremely impressive.

"Sergio has everything that a champion needs. He is the best player of his age I have ever seen." This is the verdict of Ballesteros, who has clearly been an inspirational figure to the native of the orange-growing region of Valencia.

As had happened to another celebrated Spanish amateur, Jose-Maria Olazabal, in 1985 at Royal Dublin, Garcia received a sponsor's invitation to the Irish Open at Druids Glen last July. And after a sparkling first round of 68, he went on to share 60th place behind David Carter, on 293.

Garcia is likely to turn professional next week, which means he could be back at Druids Glen this year, playing for pay. But he was understandably reticent about disclosing his plans. "I can't tell you for sure when I am turning pro, except that I will be discussing it with my parents when I leave here," he said.

Standing 5 ft 10 in and weighing 11 st, his build is some way between Ballesteros and Olazabal, which has been described as a potent cocktail. It certainly produces some prodigious striking, which has been evident during practice since his arrival here last Saturday.

For instance, where the defending champion, Mark O'Meara, was predicting three-wood second shots at the reshaped 15th, Garcia needed no more than a six-iron. And the same club could get him home at the treacherous 13th, though Hank Kuehne, the US Amateur Champion, astonished observers by hitting his drive over the trees to cut the dog-leg there.

"It was a close thing - it landed only a few yards from Rae's Creek," said Garcia, who witnessed it. "I won't be trying anything like that."

Any suggestion of conservatism in that particular statement was soon overshadowed by his expectations on teeing off at 10.38 local time this morning, in the company of Tiger Woods and Tim Herron. He certainly sees little relevance in the fact that Peter McEvoy, who finished 53rd in 1978, was the last European amateur to play four rounds in the Masters.

"I think it's possible for an amateur to win, if you have the week of your life," he said. "But it would be a great week for me if I finish in the top-16 to qualify for next year. And if things go well for me, I think I can do it."

Significantly, in the context of this week's challenge, he has made 20 cuts in 27 professional events.

Garcia was born in January 1980, four months before Ballesteros became, at 23, the youngest winner of the Masters. Woods, at 21 years and five months, has since usurped that distinction. Garcia has two years in which to set a new mark. Given his talent, it's an eminently reasonable target.