Spain’s Sergio Garcia became the first winner of a European Tour Race to Dubai event when he triumphed at the HSBC Champions tournament in Shanghai, China, which thrust him into second place in the world rankings.
Garcia, who has suffered numerous play-off disappointments in his career, this time came out on top as he beat England’s Oliver Wilson in the second play-off hole to win at the Sheshan International Golf Club.
He started the last day two shots behind Wilson but stormed back with a final round of four-under-par 68 as Wilson came home with 70.
Both players finished on 274, one stroke ahead of Australia’s former US Open champion Geoff Ogilvy and Sweden’s Peter Hanson.
In the play-off, Garcia and Wilson scored pars on the first hole. Wilson then missed a 10-foot birdie putt on the second play-off hole while Garcia holed his attempt from seven feet.
The tournament is the first event on the European Tour’s 2009 calendar, the Race to Dubai, which replaces the Order of Merit.
The Spaniard is now looking forward to next year and the possibility of a first-ever major title. He is even thinking about challenging top-ranked Tiger Woods for the world number one spot. He said in an Asian Tour press release:
“I think my next goal is to try to win a major. I’ve been trying for quite a while, but winning a major would be the next goal. Taking over Tiger as the world’s number one depends a little bit on how much Tiger takes off and if I keep playing well, it’s possible, mainly because he’s been injured.â€
British Open and US PGA Championship winner Padraig Harrington, of Ireland, finished joint 11th after his total of 281.
Alone in third place was Sweden’s Henrik Stenson with 277, followed one stroke further back by Aussie Adam Scott and South African Charl Schwartzel.
American Phil Mickelson, last year’s winner, and Thailand’s Prayad Marksaeng were together on 279.
On the US PGA Tour, veteran Davis Love III set himself up for life when won the Children’s Miracle Network Classic at Disney World in Lake Buena Vista, Florida.
It was his 20th title on the tour and first in two years, as he closed with an eight-under-par 64 for a one-shot win over Tommy Gainey, who had a 68.
Love finished with a total of 25-under 263, with Gainey on 264 and Scott Verplank and Steve Marino tied for third on 268.
With the title, the 44-year-old Love gave himself a lifetime exemption on the tour.