Golf Nedbank Challenge: Sergio Garcia put the disappointment of missing out on the Dunlop Phoenix last weekend behind him to record a play-off victory over local hero Retief Goosen and win the Nedbank Challenge at Sun City yesterday.
Garcia grabbed the €1 million first prize after surviving a tense moment on the 18th where Goosen missed a difficult chance to win the tournament.
The Spaniard then steered his play-off shot on the 16th to 12 feet from the hole while Goosen ended up 45 feet away.
After Goosen could not sink what would have been a remarkable putt to push the play-off further, Garcia calmly holed his putt to rapturous applause to claim his second title here in three years.
Coincidentally, Garcia beat another South African, world number three Ernie Els, on the same hole to win the tournament in a play-off in 2001.
In Japan last week Garcia looked set for the title, then fired a disappointing 78 on the final round to miss out on the honours.
This weekend he was not about to let anything get in his way, although he admitted it was a tense finish.
"Anything could have happened out there," Garcia said. "Retief played very well, although I did have confidence to win it after finishing strong.
"I hit a lot of good shots coming in and I had my chances, although I didn't get too many of them.
"I tried to make something on the last few holes and not head towards a play-off, but I didn't think Retief would miss that putt on 18. From then, it was just my luck."
Garcia's round started on a low note with a bogey on the first, surrendering the lead to Goosen.
But, after keeping in touch with the South African throughout, he got his chance on the 14th when Goosen was wayward with his approach shot, then three-putted for a bogey which brought the players level again.
Earlier, Darren Clarke had set the course alight to try to charge the leaders with an opening 31 on the front nine, but he found the going tougher on the back nine, where he could birdie only the 10th and finished off with a disappointing bogey on 18 to end in fourth spot on 10-under-par. That was still worth €250,000.
"I wanted to go out there today and give myself a lot of chances, but I couldn't give myself the chances I needed on the back nine," Clarke said, before admitting he was pleased with his week's work after getting a few tips from Vijay Singh.
"Vijay told me to do a couple of things that really helped me today.
"He told me to keep my eye on the ball a little longer and to start the downswing with my head more in position, as opposed to moving into the ball like I was doing."
Clarke hit a magnificent approach shot to within four feet for an eagle on the second, before hitting a seven-iron into the fourth hole for a 30-foot putt for birdie.
He added another 30-footer on the sixth for another birdie and added two more on nine and 10.
But then he stumbled on the back nine where his putting let him down as several birdie attempts fell just short.
Padraig Harrington closed with a two-under 70, a disappointing result from his point of view. It earned him €83,000.
The leader in the first two rounds, American Kenny Perry, looked jaded as he came in and simply could not get the momentum back that he had in the first two days, closing with a 75 to end joint fifth with countryman Jerry Kelly.
Australian Adam Scott shot a four-under 68, while defending champion Ernie Els closed better with a 69, but still ended two over.
That was two shots ahead of Nick Price who ended in last place on four over.
(US unless stated, par 72)
274 (14 under)
Retief Goosen (Rsa) 70 67 68 69
Sergio Garcia (Spa) 68 66 70 70
(Garcia won on first hole of play-off)
277 (11 under)
Vijay Singh (Fij) 65 72 71 69
278 (10 under)
Darren Clarke (Irl) 66 71 74 67
281 (7 under)
Jerry Kelly 67 67 76 71
Kenny Perry 65 68 74 75
282 (6 under)
Adam Scott (Aus) 66 74 74 68
Chris Dimarco 66 71 74 71
284 (4 under)
Stuart Appelby (Aus) 67 75 70 72
285 (3 under)
Fred Funk 71 71 71 72
Tim Clark (Rsa) 68 71 73 73
Jay Haas 70 72 71 72
286 (2 under)
Padraig Harrington (Irl)72 70 74 70
287 (1 under)
Charles Howell 73 67 75 72
Robert Allenby (Aus) 66 78 69 74
Stephen Leaney (Aus)68 72 70 77
290 (2 over)
Ernie Els (Rsa) 72 75 74 69
292 (4 over)
Nick Price (Zim) 69 75 75 73
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