T.J.'s Take: Oh, what might have been for Sergio

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Sergio Garcia won THE PLAYERS in May -- and came close to another win throughout the summer.

Sunday's playoff loss to good friend Camilo Villegas at THE TOUR Championship presented by Coca-Cola was just a microcosm of the year that could have been for Sergio Garcia.

No player on TOUR in recent memory was snake bitten more than Garcia in 2008.

Hear me out.

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After a slow start to the year, Garcia and his suddenly-clutch putter stormed TPC Sawgrass in May. A win at THE PLAYERS Championship was the biggest of Garcia's illustrious career.

Afterward, he said, "I think everybody feels, not only because of the field, but you know, the course, everything around it, it feels like a major. And it tests you like a major. Unfortunately it's not. Maybe sometime in the future, it might be. But you know, it definitely feels like it and I'm so thrilled to be here standing with the trophy."

There's no question that THE PLAYERS is one of the most prestigious events for a TOUR player to win. A victory down in Ponte Vedra certainly ensured a fine season for Garcia no matter what happened next. But, after evaluating what did happen next, did it really make for such a fine season?

Shoot, just look at his last two months: a tie for second at the PGA Championship; a tie for second/playoff loss at The Barclays; a tie for fifth at the Deutsche Bank Championship; a tie for 20th at the BMW Championship; and that playoff loss to Villegas at East Lake on Sunday.

Absolutely sensational play, right? No doubt -- aside from that lopsided 5 and 4 loss to Anthony Kim in the Sunday singles at the Ryder Cup. That's why when you think about it, the guy was this close to being the Player of the Year.

But, on the PGA TOUR, "this close," doesn't cut it.

Coming down the stretch at the PGA Championship at Oakland Hills, many thought that Garcia would win that elusive major title. But then an old nemesis, Padaig Harrington, got in the way just like he did in the Open Championship at Carnoustie a year earlier.

Once again, it was just another close call for Garcia, which resulted in his ninth top-five finish in a major.

Two weeks later, it was off to New Jersey for the start of the PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup. After scintillating golf all week, Garcia found himself in a playoff with Kevin Sutherland and Vijay Singh.

The tournament seemed destined to end on that first playoff hole at The Barclays. Sutherland was in trouble in two and Garcia had just drained a bomb for birdie, meaning Singh needed to answer with a bomb of his own to keep the playoff going.

Golfers swear that in a match-play situation -- which a playoff on TOUR is even if the format doesn't say so -- you have to expect the unexpected. Always anticipate that your opponent will do the unthinkable so that if and when it happens, you're not taken completely out of your game.

In case Garcia had forgotten about that rule of thumb, Singh reminded him, dropping his long, birdie putt right on top of Garcia's to force a second playoff hole.

Poor Sergio. It looked like he did everything he needed to win and then some. As it turns out, it wasn't good enough. Singh won on the second hole.

Had Garcia prevailed, the entire complexion of the Playoffs would have changed.

WATCH IT

Video: Final-round highlights from East Lake
Video: Outside the Ropes
Video: The clutch putt at The Barclays
Video: Garcia wins THE PLAYERS

As we now know, Singh won again the following week at the Deutsche Bank Championship to pretty much lock up the FedExCup. It wasn't completely official, but it certainly put it out of reach for most of the competition.

Imagine if Garcia had won The Barclays. Suddenly that tie for fifth at the Deutsche Bank Championship wouldn't have been looking so shabby. Then it might have been a battle between Garcia and Singh for the FedExCup.

Before THE TOUR Championship started, everyone knew that all Singh needed to do was complete four rounds and sign his scorecard to win the FedExCup. There was still a lot at stake in terms of bonus money and pride for the other competitors, especially Garcia. End the year on a high note. Take the sting away from another season of close but no cigars.

And, it nearly happened. Then, it nearly didn't happen. Then, it nearly happened again.

Confused? Well, Garcia started the final round at East Lake with a three-shot lead. After a couple of hours, he was the one trailing. But, the putter got hot at just the right time with some clutch pars and after a par on No. 18, Garcia was in a playoff with Villegas.

Vying to become just the third player in history to win both THE PLAYERS and THE TOUR Championship in the same season and the first since Jodie Mudd in 1990, Garcia sent his tee shot on the par-3 18th -- the first hole of the playoff -- well right of the green and into no-chance-for-par territory. Villegas, meanwhile, hit a safe tee shot to the middle of the green. Two putts later, Villegas won for the second time in two starts and his buddy Garcia had to swallow another bitter loss.

Basically, between The Barclays and THE TOUR Championship, Garcia was two strokes away from winning the FedExCup. All that, along with one position higher at the PGA Championship, and an argument could be made that Garcia is the overwhelming favorite for Player of the Year honors.

Instead, Garcia will go into his offseason wondering, again, what could have been.

The law of averages would lead you to believe that Garcia eventually has got to be the guy receiving the congratulations rather than giving it.

In 2008, Garcia has shown plenty of grace in defeat -- forgive his quick, cold handshake to Harrington at the end of the PGA Championship. Harrington's hands must have been white-hot from holding the grip of that smokin' putter.

If we've learned anything about Garcia this season it's that he's matured. Sure, that didn't bring him an overload of hardware, but it did earn him a new level of respect. He still has his moments, but he wouldn't be Sergio if he didn't and how can you knock a guy for being so passionate about his craft?

Garcia won't be Player of the Year, but there were few players who were more fun to watch in 2008.

T.J. Auclair is a columnist for PGATOUR.COM. His views do not necessarily represent the views of the PGA TOUR.