Player Championship 2017: Sergio Garcia goes from heckled to icon

Sergio Garcia, all is forgiven.

That was certainly the message that Players Championship fans, some of whom may have given the formerly major-less Spaniard a hard time in years past, imparted to the newly crowned Masters champion during a nine-hole practice round on Wednesday at TPC Sawgrass.

Garcia, with a spanking new green jacket in his wardrobe, certainly experienced a far different welcome this time around from the ones he has received in years past, when spectators cheered his dual water balls on the famed par-3 17th in 2013 after his notorious flap with Tiger Woods and taunted him mercilessly two years later.

Fast forward to a month after Garcia finally captured his first major title and those in the gallery at the tournament he won in 2008 showered him with good cheer and support.

Garcia responded with smiles and and waves as shouts of “Sergio!” and “Congratulations on the Masters!” rang out across the course, according to GolfChannel.com’s Ryan Lavner.

And it’s not just those in Ponte Vedra who are showing their love for the former El Nino.

“The support from fans and supporters and everyone around the world has been amazing,” he said.

The love from his peers, who, almost to a man, have gushed over his newfound status upon his return to competition since his dramatic playoff victory over Justin Rose at Augusta, has truly moved Garcia.

“For me, what has meant the most, it’s to see the reaction from the players, you know, towards me and how happy -- other than a couple — how happy they all have been,” Sergio, who declined to divulge the names of the naysayers, told reporters with a laugh.

“They’ve been so happy for me to get my first major and win the Masters,” said the world’s sixth-ranked golfer. “That, to me, shows a lot. It shows me how much my fellow players respect me and care about me. It’s something that you can’t really fake, so that’s awesome.’’

Garcia had no idea how he would feel on the first tee since his Masters triumph. He’ll find out soon enough, as he’ll kick off his tournament on No. 1 at 1:41 p.m. ET with Adam Scott and Matt Kuchar.