Sergio not motivated by the money

Sergio Garcia, golf's teenage sensation, can expect to command untold riches over the next few years.

But the man who captured the hearts of American golf fans when he finished just one shot behind Tiger Woods at the US PGA earlier this month maintains money is not his motivation.

Garcia was visibly stunned yesterday when he learned the scale of Woods' new 90million dollars 'double-your-money' deal with sponsors Nike.

"Money is important, but I just want to play golf and enjoy myself and do what I like to do," insisted Garcia, who already has deals in place with Adidas and Titleist worth around £8million.

"I know that if I play well I'm going to have enough money, so I don't really care about that. That's something my manager does and I'm not into that business."

The Spaniard, a prodigy of Seve Ballesteros, was much more excited by his qualification for the Ryder Cup and admitted he was revelling in the attention which has accompanied his first four hectic months as a professional.

"I'm really enjoying it," said Garcia. "I'm having a lot of fun and I'm playing pretty well. I'm just trying to be myself. If people like me, that's perfect."

Garcia is teamed up with Ryder Cup rival David Duval, America's only rookie, in the first round of the NEC Invitational World Golf Championship which starts tomorrow.

And Duval, who played with Garcia last week in Colorado, was full of praise for golf's hottest new property.

"He's a really good guy," said Duval. "By the way he acted and talked on the course you would have thought he was having a lot better day than he was and that is commendable. He's just having so much fun.

"I enjoyed playing with him a great deal. It was nice to see some of the things he tried and then to see his reactions. I got a kick out of him."

Woods, meanwhile, arrives here for his first practice round today having confirmed his place at the top of golf's big earning league.

The world number one has more than doubled his clothing contract with Nike and will receive close on 90million dollars over the next five years.

Ironically, Woods has profited from a disagreement between his two main sponsors, Nike and Titleist, over two of his TV commercials, including one which depicts Woods bouncing a golf ball off a clubface.

It is thought Titleist were not happy with the exposure they were getting in the ads because Woods' cap and shirt bear the Nike whoosh symbol. Titleist felt the TV spots created the impression that Woods was endorsing Nike's golf ball.

Mark Steinberg, who handles Woods affairs for IMG, told August's edition of Golf World magazine that the conflict between the two sponsors was the impetus for the restructuring.

As part of that it is understood that Titleist will cut its financial obligation to Woods in half, to two million dollars a year and will no longer have its name on his golf bag.

"There would have been renewal talks in the next eight to 12 months anyway," Steinberg said. "But this way there are no lawsuits and no damage to Tiger Woods, Nike or Titleist."

Woods' original five-year contract, signed in 1996, was for 40million dollars. Since then he has won the 1997 US Masters, this year's US PGA Championship and has reached the world number one ranking several times.