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PONTE VEDRA, Florida: Spain’s Sergio Garcia parred the dangerous
island 17th hole in a playoff to defeat Paul Goydos here Sunday and
win the US PGA Players Championship, taking the biggest title of his
career.
The victory was the first in three years for the
28-year-old Spaniard, who saved a par at the last hole to fire a
final-round 71, 1-under par, to match US veteran Goydos after 72
holes at 5-under par 283.
In the playoff, a wind gust sent Goydos’ tee
shot into the water while Garcia put his tee shot four feet from the
cup and two-putted for the victory.
“It’s a lot of hard work that’s starting
to pay off,” Garcia said. “It has been a lot of work. I feel
like the last three years I’ve been playing tournaments well,
played very nicely, but I haven’t been able to win.”
“Everything was so hard out there. I’m just
so thrilled I was able to come through with the win.”
Garcia became only the second European player to
win the $9-million tournament, the first since Sandy Lyle won a
playoff 21 years ago on the third extra hole. That had been the last
playoff at the Players until Sunday.
“Sergio shot under-par today. That’s mind
numbing,” Goydos said. “He had a great round. Sergio played
better than everybody else. Look at the stats. That’s what’s
rewarded.”
-- AFP
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