Sunday 30 October 2011

Garcia into Top 20 After Valderrama


Sergio Garcia claimed his second title in two weeks with a one-shot victory in the Andalucia Masters at Valderrama.

Last week the Spaniard won for the first time in almost three years at the Castello Masters on his home course by 11 shots.

This win was a lot closer, as he had to get up and down for a par at the last from thick greenside rough to beat Miguel Angel Jimenez by the narrowest of margins.

The victory will take Garcia back into the world's top 20 and earn him a place in next week's World Golf Championship event in Shanghai.

"I'm out of words," said Garcia, who was ranked 49th in the world a fortnight ago. "It's been two amazing weeks."

His latest success was followed by an admission that he feared he would never come back from a slump that saw him crash from world number two to outside the leading 75 - and quit the game for a while last season.

"Ask Luke Donald," Garcia told Sky Sports. "We had a very tough conversation in Madrid."

Now, with Donald top of the rankings, they are on course to resume their unbeaten Ryder Cup partnership in Chicago next September.
Special

"Ryder Cup years are always special," Garcia added, "so hopefully we can make that team."

Garcia, three times a runner-up on a course where no Spaniard had triumphed, was three ahead with three to play.

But Jimenez birdied the 16th and a marvellous five-wood over the lake gave the 47-year-old a 12-foot eagle chance on the next.

He had to settle for birdie, though, and when he left a 15-foot putt short of the final hole it meant three closing pars were good enough for Garcia.

Not that he found them easy. He was in trees and sand at the 16th, but holed from six feet, then was fortunate on the next when his second shot skipped out of a bunker.

"Don't plug," he shouted with the ball in the air, but after finding himself in the rough instead he made his five.

He took a three wood off the tee on the 18th and left himself 197 yards to the green, then came up short with his approach.

That left him a tricky chip but he flopped out to three feet and holed the putt, punching the air in celebration and relief.