Majesticks GC look to reverse result against Fireballs in quarters

Co-Captain Henrik Stenson beat rival Captain Sergio Sergio Garcia in the singles last year, but Majesticks lost that match in Miami 2-1. However, this week at Maridoe Golf Club, they are confident about a change in fortunes.

Majesticks are coming off one of their best performances of the season in LIV Golf Chicago last week, where they finished fourth with both Ian Poulter (5th) and Stenson (tied 6th) recording their best result of 2024.

Fireballs, who were third in Chicago and sixth in the season-long standing, quite surprisingly, put their two young Spaniards Eugenio Chacarra and David Puig for the singles, while Majesticks decided to go with form and opted for Stenson and Poulter.

The foursomes match will then pit Garcia and Abraham Ancer, who have both won once this season, against Lee Westwood and Sam Horsfield.

"I think Sergio is hiding!” quipped Stenson when asked if he was surprised by Garcia’s decision to play in the foursomes instead of singles.

“No, I was a bit surprised. I thought I was going to get Sergio in the first match. But no, I think we’re very happy with that setup, and yeah, looking forward to tomorrow.”

On their own plans, Stenson said it was a mixture of both last week’s form and what the stats suggested in relation to the golf course.

“We looked at the stats and we looked at the golf course and we thought that singles was a good place for me,” Stenson explained.

"I always enjoy playing foursomes, and I was definitely up for that as well. But I think the numbers said that this would be a good golf course for me.“

Ian, as we all know, he's a tough one to play. Even if we think he's out of the hole, he always finds a way to get back in. You can never count him out on any hole, right?

“So, it felt natural that he also played the singles. And then Sam and Lee compliment each other well and would be good in the foursomes.”

Poulter fancied Majesticks chances and added: “It’s going to be a fun day. Look, we didn’t do what we needed to do against them last year. I think that there's going to be some motivation with us this year to obviously change that.“

The way the pairings have lined themselves up, me playing David will be a great match. Obviously he hits it 50 yards past me, so it’s over to me to put the pressure on him first, which I’ve done quite well in this format in the past, and it’s time for me to go and deliver. “I played well last week, so I feel pretty confident.”

Horsfield has been the best-placed among the Majesticks in the season-long Individual Standings, finishing on No. 31, and also recorded the best finish for the franchise this season with his runners-up place in LIV Golf Nashville.

After a disappointing start to the season, Westwood has put in some solid rounds for the team and his tied 3rd place in Nashville was the best season of his LIV Golf career.

FRIDAY’S MATCHES

Singles: Henrik Stenson vs Eugenio Chacarra

Singles: Ian Poulter vs David Puig

Foursomes: Lee Westwood/Sam Horsfield vs Sergio Garcia/Abraham Ancer