He may be challenging the likes of Tiger Woods at the Masters in Georgia this month, but Spain is where the 22-year-old phenom parks his golf bag Here's a weekend in Madrid with Sergio Garcia.
When the PGA Masters Tournament tees off at Augusta this month, one of the faces to watch will be Sergio Garcia, the 22-year-old wunderkind from Spain who has thundered up the ranks since turning pro at 17. They call him El Niño - the son or the storm, depending upon your interpretation - and he's had a club in his hand since he was 3, thanks to his father, a caddie turned pro at Madrid's Club de Campo. By the time Sergio was 12 he was club champion. By 14, he'd made the cut in his first tournament. Now, in addition to a golf cart, he races through the sports world at 140 miles per hour in his Ferrari - in Spain, where he still lives with his parents, hitting the links with Dad, wolfing down Mama's famous paella, and cheering on his favorite soccer team, Real Madrid. Here's a weekend with the powerhouse of professional golf in the Spanish capital.
FRIDAY
LODGING
"I would choose either the Ritz or The Palace. The Palace is right in the center of the city. It is within walking distance of the Museo del Prado and the main shopping area. Some say it is Spain's most extravagant hotel. It was commissioned by King Alfonso XIII, who was embarrassed at the lack of luxury accommodations for his wedding guests. Each of the rooms at the hotel is decorated in a different style, with carpets made by hand."

DINNER