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Garcia finds his winning touch again on PGA tour
Marco Giacomelli12 May 2008
Sergio Garcia found his putting form just in time to win the Players Championship in a play-off and claim his first PGA Tour title in three years.
The Spaniard, who had been in the wilderness for nearly 10 months since his heartbreaking play-off loss to Padraig Harrington at last year's Open, looked like coming up just short again.
He had a seven-foot par putt at the final regulation hole at the Sawgrass TPC and, judging by recent efforts, not too many people would have backed him to make it. But he read the putt correctly to salvage the par and claim a final round 71, leaving him five-under for the tournament. When American Paul Goydos bogeyed the same hole minutes later after missing a 14-footer to sign for a 74, Garcia was in a play-off. "You never know what's going to happen, but I felt like I was going to make it," Garcia said of his clutch putt. "Everything was calm, every single part of my body.
"I had a little grin when I was going to the ball, because I felt so calm. I was breathing nicely, I got over the putt, one quick look, and it was nice to see it go in.
"I thought 'all the hard work, this is what it's worth'."
And after Goydos dumped his wedge in the water short of the island green at the first play-off hole, Garcia claimed his first victory in nearly three years.
The 28-year-old won at the very same hole where Sandy Lyle, the only European to previously win the prestigious event, prevailed 21 years earlier.
