Sergio Comes Up Big

Sergio Comes Up Big

By BRANDON FINLEY

PHOTO COURTESY OF PGAPRO.COM

He's a Spaniard, so you know he has a flair for the dramatic. That's what Sergio Garcia did to win his first major. Well, The Players is the "fifth major" after all. Garcia had been so close to winning a meaningful tournament, but so many times before he just hasn't had it down the stretch.

Last year at the British Open was the most recent example of Garcia's troubles down the stretch as he lost in a playoff. This time, Garcia would take advantage in a playoff to win golf's biggest purse at Ponte Vedra Beach at the TPC.

Now 1.7 million dollars richer, Garcia won't be known as the guy who chokes. After second place finisher Paul Goydos knocked it into the drink on the first playoff hole (the famed island seventieth hole) Garcia quickly put his shot within five feet. From there he would two put for his first championship.

The biggest reason that Garcia won was his putter in the final round that has been suspect throughout his career. Even though Garcia had eighteen more putts during the tournament than Goydos, he was able to make the clutch ones down the stretch.

The biggest of these putts came on the eighteenth as Garcia needed a tricky putt to save his par, and give him a shot at the playoff. Goydos was playing a group back, and needed a par to finish with the win. As it turned out, it wouldn't be Garcia choking this time. This time he would be the beneficiary, and become The Players' Champion.