Garcia has to rediscover himself at the US PGA

Sergio Garcia needs to rediscover himself if he is to shrug off his putting problems and fashion a breakthrough victory in golf's majors, but he can land a big one. That's the view of the man whose putting tips have helped eight-times European No 1 Colin Montgomerie put lean spells behind him to clinch tournament wins.

The former European and US PGA Tour player Philip Parkin, now a TV golf expert and world-class golf teacher, believes he has the answer to El Niño's putting woes. "Sergio is a fantastic player, but his putting continues to let him down, and I know why," says Parkin, who this week joins The National as our new golf expert in the build-up to this year's final major, the US PGA Championship, at Oakland Hills.

"On the greens, he simply isn't the same player he was when he first turned pro, and he needs to go back to those days to rediscover himself, and the putting magic he's lost." Parkin, who was twice the leading putter on the PGA European Tour before eyesight problems brought his career to a premature end in 1992, has since built a flourishing career in TV, and has coached a variety of top players. Montgomerie, who has known Parkin since their amateur days, says: "He gave me some putting advice when I had not won for about a year and I then went on to win two weeks later.

" Also, at the Scandinavian Masters in 2001, Philip and I worked on some putting drills on the practice green after my first round and I again went on to win." As he prepares to tee it up at Oakland Hills, Monty would be encouraged to know that Parkin, at least, believes he could still capture a major title. "If he wants it badly enough, it's not too late for him to win a major," he says. "He's such a great competitor, and if he had a good start, and was in the right frame of mind, I've no doubt that he could come through."

Parkin's regular golf columns for The National will begin tomorrow with a special preview of the 90th US PGA Championship. The former Welsh Dunhill Cup and PGA Tour player has evolved into an accomplished TV commentator since being forced to quit the game, as emphasised by his lead on course role in the BBC's recent coverage of the Open Championship at Royal Birkdale. Parkin's brilliant amateur playing career was highlighted when he became the first player to hold the British Youths and Amateur Championships simultaneously, and the first European to gain First Team All American honours while studying at Texas A&M University.

After finishing joint 31st alongside Jack Nicklaus and Johnny Miller on his professional debut in the 1984 Open Championship at St Andrews, he went on to win the Rookie of the Year award on the PGA European Tour. Parkin's former Welsh Dunhill Cup teammate, Philip Price, a European Ryder Cup hero at the Belfry in 2002, says: "I always loved watching Phil during his early days because he had such a wonderful golf swing and I remember seeing him hit shots of such quality that I wondered whether I should bother persevering if that was how good I needed to be.

"When I won the Algarve Open De Portugal in 2001, a victory that was crucial to my Ryder Cup selection, it was largely due to Phil's coaching. I had a 72 in the first round but putted poorly and spent two hours on the putting green with Phil. It worked. I had rounds of 67, 70 and 64 to win the tournament. The confidence and self belief that gave me helped me to achieve my Ryder Cup dream." Parkin's columns in The National will focus on the majors, the Ryder Cup, hot talking points in golf, and also give readers tips on how to improve their game.

Ken Brown, five-times Ryder Cup player and another TV golf commentator, says: "Philip has an uncanny ability to teach the game in a simple and easily understandable way. He also makes students, especially youngsters, have fun whilst they are learning. "During my playing career, he often helped with my swing and short game. As well as his extensive technical knowledge he can demonstrate, on a practical level, all aspects of the game of golf, particularly around the greens with some of his own specialist chips and pitches. Philip is one of the few players who could match Seve Ballesteros for his envied short game wizardry."

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