SERGIO GARCIA has revealed why he did not get rattled in the heat of battle at the Masters – a week earlier he had a terrifying encounter with a huge snake!

Just before he flew to Augusta last year, Garcia was introduced to hunting by Marty Akins, now his father-in-law, and they were out stalking wild hogs at his 1,250 acre ranch in Texas.

4 Sergio Garcia finally won his first major when he was crowned Masters champion last year Credit: Reuters

As they waded through the thick grass, Garcia saw something move and leaped back, yelling: “Watch out big man – snake” – although he admits there may have been a few expletives too.

Akins told the Augusta Chronicle that Garcia was carrying his rifle, a Winchester 30-30, and he urged his future son-in-law to use it.

Akins said: “I looked down and I had my foot sort of on a rattlesnake. So I jumped off him and he coiled up. Sergio had the gun so I said, ‘Shoot him!’.”

Garcia shook his head so Akins took the gun and shot the rattlesnake in half.

4 Sergio Garcia revealed he took a hunting trip with his father-in-law just days before the last Masters Credit: Twitter

The Spanish star said he thought about that incident as he walked away from Augusta wearing his green jacket, courtesy of his play-off victory over Justin Rose.

He explained: “If I hadn’t noticed the movement I would literally have put my foot probably three inches left of it.

“Obviously we were wearing snake boots and everything, but you never know. If I step on it and it bites me, maybe I’m not even playing in Augusta. So I guess it was just one of those things that was meant to be.”

“I’ve tried to compare those two things, and I suppose it’s a different kind of adrenaline. One is excitement from having a chance to win a tournament that we love - the other one is being kind of scared of what might happen.”

4 The Spaniard heads to Augusta next Thursday looking to defend the Green Jacket Credit: Getty Images - Getty

4 Sergio Garcia married his wife Angela just three months after winning the Masters to cap off his year Credit: Getty Images - Getty

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Golfer Sergio Garcia poses in The Masters green jacket on The Empire State Building

Akins was a lot calmer about it all. He said: “It was pretty funny to me that eight days after he almost stepped on that rattlesnake, he won the Masters.”

Garcia and Akins’ daughter, Angela, were married three months later. You could call it a shotgun wedding!