Former World No. 2 Golfer Garcia Blames Girlfriend Split For His Slide

May 28, 2009 6:53 a.m. EST

Kent, England (AHN) - Former world No. 2 Sergio Garcia recently admitted that his plummeting performance isn't the work of his fast-fading strokes in the game but is a result of a disheartening stroke in his lovelife.

The Spanish star said Monday his recent breakup with Morgan-Leigh Norman, the daughter of Australian golfer Greg Norman, has taken its toll on his swings.

The nosedive has taken the seven-time PGA Tour winner into the No. 4 world ranking, overtaken by Englishman Paul Casey.

The 29-year-old Garcia said Norman ended the relationship 10 weeks ago when the couple was in Miami. He said the separation had been hard to take, admitting that it was the first time he's been in love.

"It was her doing, not mine, and it happened the week of Miami. It is unfortunate, one of those things. Do I still think of her all the time? No. It is pretty much back in the past now," Garcia told the Times Online.

Garcia zoomed to the No. 2 ranking following victories in The Players Championship on the PGA Tour and the HSBC Champions on the European Tour.

But he never returned to prominence since, finishing 31st in the CA Championship and 38th in the Masters.

He was eliminated after two rounds in the Quail Hollow Championship and was a distant 22nd in the Players Championship.

Garcia is competing this week at the European Open at the London Golf Club.