- The Washington Times - Friday, April 6, 2018

Sergio Garcia lost any hope of defending his 2017 Masters title in one hole on Thursday.

Garcia’s score of 13 on Hole 15, which tied the highest single-hole score in championship history, was very straightforward. His shots did not zig-zag from bunker to bunker or out of bounds. He only needed one putt. The issue: five approach shots in a row finding the water.

Garcia finished the day with an 81, 9-over par, and will need a miracle in the second round to make the cut.

The Spaniard got a monkey off his back at Augusta National last year by winning the green jacket for his first career major title, fending off Justin Rose on the first hole of a sudden-death playoff.

This year, Garcia likely will place the green jacket onto another man’s shoulders.

• Adam Zielonka can be reached at azielonka@washingtontimes.com.

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