Sergio Garcia produced two stunning putts in ‘sudden death’ to claim his second European Tour title in his first six months as a professional when he won a dramatic play-off in the Linde German Masters at Gut Lärchenhof.
The Spanish teenager, who won the Murphy’s Irish Open in July, coolly sank putts of 25 feet and then 12 feet to win the play-off after he, Padraig Harrington and Ian Woosnam had finished on an 11 under par total of 277.
Woosnam, who missed a five footer for a par in ‘regulation play’ to win the tournament, did exactly the same fifteen minutes later after the three players had returned to the 18th tee to begin a play-off packed with incident and drama.
That left Harrington – who holed a 35 foot chip for par at the first extra hole – and Garcia to continue their duel. And as the excitement reached a crescendo, Garcia returned to the 18th green moments later to capture the second title of his fledgling career with a birdie putt – this time from 12 feet – to edge out Harrington.
Victory propelled Garcia into second place in the Volvo Order of Merit, £436,192 behind No.1 Colin Montgomerie, whose own title challenge faded with a 72 for a share of ninth place.
He has won a total of £819,987 followed his first place cheque of £208,357 in Germany, and this most recent stellar performance puts him in line to break the £1 million barrier in his rookie season.
The superb tournament may have been bedevilled by inclement weather, but the spectators cared not as they witnessed an epic finish over the closing holes.
Harrington, with a closing 67, set the standard in the clubhouse on 277, despite driving into a bunker at the last and making a bogey five. Garcia, despite some close calls on the homeward stretch, including a 12 footer on the last, joined the Irishman at 11 under.
Then it was left to the consistent Woosnam, in search of his first title in two and a half years, to watch in disbelief as his five footer son the 72nd slid past on the low side to ensure a three-way play-off.
Jose Rivero and Peter Baker could have made it a five-way tie, but failed to convert chances at the last to tie for fourth. For Rivero, his move from 132nd to 79th place in the Volvo Order of Merit came as a huge relief as he secured his card for 2000.
Then as the play-off swung into action, Harrington and Garcia drove into trouble and the Irishman was through the back in three. His brilliant chip dropped for a par, Garcia matched him from 25 feet – and Woosnam, the closest of the three, missed from five feet and dropped out.
Next time around, Harrington was over the green in two after driving into a bunker and taking too much club. He chipped back to five feet, but Garcia went to school on the putt he missed at the 72nd hole and this time it dropped for a birdie three.
He said: “These were two putts I had to make in the play-off. When Padraig chipped in I knew I had only one chance left and it went in. The putt I missed at the last gave me a read for the second play-off hole and I knew it didn’t break too much. It hit it half a cup right and it went in.”
Garcia continues to go from strength to strength and added: “This win is different from the Murphy’s Irish Open. Then I was more excited because it was the first, but this is great because I have now won twice in my first season as a pro.”
A disappointed Harrington commented: “It was a remarkable finish all round. I never let myself think I had won after I holed my chip. I expected one of the other guys to make a putt for par. I expected Sergio to hole first time around and I expected him to do it again second time around.”
Woosnam sportingly admitted that “that’s the way golf goes” after coming so close, while Baker and Rivero took comfort from the fact that they had contended again after a long spell without figuring near the top of the leader board.
