A slim athletic figure takes command of the tee box. He taps down the uneven surface and channels a clear path towards his desired teeing spot. He places his ball on the tee, stands behind it, practice swings and visualises his shot. On taking his address position he adjusts his shirt at the shoulders like a tennis player about to serve. He looks at his target area, wiggles his driver, looks, wiggles, looks and wiggles. The fingers of his right hand fidget on the grip as if fingering a piccolo. He winds the club back creating a wide arc, drops his hands inside and unleashes the ball mercilessly into the air, it pitches 280 yards down the fairway, coming to rest some 40 yards further. The Kid has finally made his first appearance as a professional in England.

The Garcia lookalikes lined the fairways of Wentworth last week to watch their idol. They, like him, looked like they had taken the afternoon off school to take part in this golfing spectacle. Sergio wears his baseball cap with its peak curved low on his forehead, as if blinkered from anything other than the fairway - so do they. Although, to the impartial spectator there were some shots worthy of applause from the other members of the three ball, they were received with silence. This crowd had congregated to see the kid from Castellon, to worship the "wunderkid'. The first act of wizardry I saw him perform was when the sun broke through the clouds on Friday afternoon and it became hot. Sergio went to the side of the sixth tee and began to extract his polo-necked shirt which he was wearing under his tee-shirt. It was a feat that Houdini would have been proud of. By the time his playing partners had hit their tee shots, he had discarded his unwanted polo neck without exposing a piece of his upper body. This boy has been prepared for every eventuality. I suppose with a large camera presence, Sergio has been advised not to give the snappers occasion for any uncompromising photographs. He was not going to appear topless in a British tabloid.

Fortunately there were no photographers around the left of the ninth hole the next day when Sergio hooked his tee shot into the trees, and encountered an adder of considerable length while looking for his ball. Probably not the reputation that Sergio would like to get; jungle expeditions at Wentworth. Sergio Garcia is no stranger to the Tour. Having played in many events last year as an amateur, the only difference now is that he is getting paid for his efforts. After a gradual build up to his professional status he is already familiar to the workings of such an existence. In his press conference at his first professional tournament in Barcelona last month his father Victor shed a tear as his son announced his decision. Victor had accompanied and caddied for Sergio in most of the events that he played in until now. The tears were of a proud father letting go of his son, anxious about his future in the big bad world of the paid ranks. Victor still accompanies his son at every tournament. He can be seen encouraging and consoling but not pushing and admonishing. While his son played, Victor was sighted behind the spectators, isolated from Sergio on the other side of the ropes. He was swinging his own club in an effort to calm his nerves. As a teaching pro, he advises Sergio. Having been used to having constant contact, it is obviously very difficult for him not to be able to communicate with his son on the course any longer.

Although Garcia has an impressive amateur record, he states that his professional status opens a new chapter in his career. He insists that he is starting from zero again and not resting on amateur laurels. With three cuts made in Europe and an admirable third place finish in his first appearance in the States, we have yet to feel the full force of young Sergio. He does not have the imposing presence of Seve when he was stalking the fairways of the late seventies. His disposition is more controlled and business-like, somewhat dehumanised like the modern superstar golfer tends to be. Sergio has set some ground rules for those keen to pursue his progress. He will answer any questions regarding his golf. Anything else will be answered by either his father or his manager Jose Marquina.

Unlike his contemporary, Justin Rose, Sergio has been well advised. He has been groomed for his present position, given time to ease into his new status. Justin was catapulted into unknown territory on the back of a good finish at the Open Championship. He has since faded into the missed cut ranks. I witnessed his arrival at the Dutch Open last year, his first professional event. It was a media feeding frenzy. Poor Justin, in his amiable innocence, couldn't say no to the requests for more information. His advisors seemed more concerned about how big the contracts were going to be rather than the welfare of their talented young and innocent teenage golfer. Justin moved from the Romantic chapter of his book to the historical one rapidly. Sergio has a new book to write, and he knows the plot already. He along with his advisors intend it to be a long consuming novel. Not the brief short story that Justin Rose's handlers have scripted.

Garcia did not make an impression on the leader board at Wentworth last week. The style in which he made the cut, however, was impressive; a four iron to four feet on the last hole out of the rough, which he converted for an eagle three to make the cut on the limit. He looks more threatening from a difficult situation than he does from the middle of the fairway. He thrives under pressure. They call him "el nino", it will not be long before he matures to to `el maestro'. Sergio Garcia is here to stay.