Stormin' Sergio sparks Wentworth into life

So it is The Big Easy versus The Little Troublesome One in a head-to-head that is worthy of the World Match Play final. And the sighs of relief from the sponsors' tent almost threatened to drown out the cascade of cheers that greeted Sergio Garcia's outrageous chip-in to beat Michael Campbell yesterday.

The alternative to today's intriguing clash of style and physique between the diminutive Spaniard and the giant South African was a Fijian versus a New Zealander; a mouth-watering prospect for rugby sevens supporters but hardly one to excite lovers of the smaller white-balled game.

Not to insult either Vijay Singh or Campbell, it is just that Garcia and Ernie Els have so much more and despite the rain forecast for today even fair-weather friends will be tempted to turn out for this one.

This is a showdown of little and large, and of two opposing temperaments ­ and we all know what happens when opposites meet. In the blue-velvet corner comes Els, so languid in both swing and moods that everything is taken in his loping stride. Facing the Open champion in the red-mist corner will be Garcia, a golfer who lives every shot as if it could be his last and scampers round the course with nervous energy that sometimes boils over. In the past, a shoe thrown at a rules official, a set-to with a playing partner that almost reached the punching stage during a pro-am and some ill-advised flurries in press conferences have submerged Sergio in hot water.

Since joining the American tour two years ago, however, such episodes have become as rare as missed cuts for the new, mature Garcia. He won three tournaments there in little under a year and top 10 finishes in each one of this year's majors have confirmed that here is a serious challenger.

But without the occasional outburst, Sergio wouldn't be Sergio. At The Belfry during last month's Ryder Cup he acted as the barometer of European emotion as the tide ebbed and flowed. One minute he was exchanging a high-five with Lee Westwood after one inspirational win, the next storming off the 18th green after losing, complaining bitterly about some perceived injustice.

The golfing world has become used to such theatrics but rather than frown at the accession of a new drama queen most have realised the entertainment he brings to the galleries. In Surrey this week there has been plenty to stir the throngs who follow him.

On Friday, as he laboured against Padraig Harrington he was spotted doing his bit for the ozone-haters as he set about a tree that had the temerity to intrude with his swing. That both four iron and branch survived such a mauling said much for the club makers as well as nature's handiwork.

Yesterday, he was at it again, continuing his forest foray when threatening a tree, this time with a three iron, before the offending shrub had even had a chance to come between the 22-year-old and his ball. "It's fine, it's not interfering," he said as he took at least a dozen practice swings to make sure. The result was a pulled approach that helped cost him the first hole of the afternoon and send him one down, but that was the least he could expect after such a palaver.

It was purely in keeping with his character that, Garcia rediscovered his composure to grind out a win. Before the lob-wedge that broke Campbell's resolve, it was the red-faced putter that had come to his rescue. Both will need to be firing again today if Els is to be felled.