Aaron Baddeley became the second young Australian professional to capture a title on the 2001 European Tour International Schedule when he beat Sergio Garcia in a play-off to win the Greg Norman Holden International at The Lakes Golf Club in Sydney.
Three weeks after compatriot Adam Scott claimed his maiden European Tour victory in the Alfred Dunhill Championship in South Africa, the 19 year old from Melbourne repeated the feat on this, his European Tour debut, rolling in a 20 foot birdie putt on the first extra hole to pick up a cheque for 223,593 euro.
The eagerly anticipated clash between Baddeley and Garcia lived up to every expectation as the two young golfing lions, who started the day as joint leaders on 16-under, finished the day still locked together on 21 under par 271 after both had produced sparkling play during their respective 68s.
After signing their cards, the duo returned to the 195 yard 18th hole to begin the play-off and after both landed on the green, Garcia saw his birdie attempt from 35 feet slip narrowly past the left edge of the hole. Baddeley knew then what was required for victory and he calmly stepped up to stroke home the winning birdie putt.
England’s Ian Poulter, Rookie of the Year on the European Tour last season, looked to have secured a place in the play-off too when he dramatically holed a 30 yard bunker shot for an eagle three on the 494 yard 17th.
But the birdies Garcia and Baddeley both made at the same hole moments later dropped the winner of last year’s Italian Open one stroke behind the leading pair again and when he missed from 18 feet on the last for a birdie Poulter sensed his chance was gone. In the end, his 68 gave him third place on 20 under par 272.
One shot behind Poulter on 273 was tournament host Greg Norman, who completed the quartet of 68s from the leading four finishers, while fellow Australian Nick O’Hern carded a 65, the best round of the final day, to move the left hander who was third in last week’s Heineken Classic in Perth into fifth on 276.
The fact Baddeley had secured his first European Tour title in an event bearing the name of his mentor was not lost on the teenager who first sprung to fame in 1999 when he won the Australian Open title when still an amateur.
“It is awesome to have done that,” he said. “Greg has really taken me under his wing and he always has the phone line open. To be able to call on someone like Greg and chat about things has been invaluable. He’s been there and done it all on the pro circuit for 25 years so it is very special to win his tournament.
“I did play well out there although it was nerve-wracking. It nearly got a head-to-head thing but I holed a few birdie putts at the end which made the difference. I was over the putt at the 17th and I thought, ‘This is what you practice for.’ So you just knock it in and go to the last. Then to hole another putt like that to win was just awesome.”
Garcia was fulsome in his praise of his younger opponent although he was left to rue the two stroke penalty handed out to him in Saturday’s third round after he had taken an incorrect drop on the first hole. He said: “A couple of shots would have helped obviously because you can play some shots a little less aggressive and stay a little calmer.
“But it was a great week overall and, I’ll tell you, I don’t think I can play a lot better than I did today. I played really well but Aaron played well too. He played just good enough to beat me but it was a great battle. I wasn’t surprised he played so well, he’s a great player.”
Garcia looked far from play-off material when he bogeyed the first and third to allow Baddeley to lead on his own throughout the first 12 holes. A 25 foot birdie putt on the long 11th though, brought a punch of jubilation from the Spaniard but even then the Australian calmly rolled in a six-footer for a matching four to stay one in front.
Garcia however threw down the gauntlet when he pulled out his driver at the 339-yard dogleg and smashed his tee shot onto the green. Baddeley thought about trying the same, but opted for safety and when he made par, Garcia drew level with a two-putt birdie three.
In the group in front, Poulter made it a three-way tie for the lead when he splashed out of sand to four feet on the reachable par five 14th, but Garcia and Baddeley still had the hole to play.
Garcia played much the better second across the water and again nearly made eagle, but birdie was good enough to take him into sole possession of the lead for the first time since the start of the final round as Baddelely chipped to ten feet and missed.
He forgot that, however, and drew level once more when he sank a 25 foot putt at the 16th - and it was this surer putting touch which eventually would decide the day.
Third placed Poulter continued to show the form which won him the Rookie of the Year title last year, the 25-year-old from Luton not surprisingly delighted with his week and paricularly his finish to the final round.
"Holing that shot on the 17th was awesome," said Poulter, who started the day one shot ahead of playing partner Greg Norman and finished that way. "The 16th (where he made bogey five) probably cost me, but I've proved I can play."
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