Garcia snatches play-off victory
Sergio Garcia ended his three-year PGA Tour drought with a thrilling play-off victory against unheralded American Paul Goydos to claim the Players Championship at Sawgrass. The Spaniard made up three shots in his final round of 71 to tie Goydos at five-under, before sealing victory at the first extra hole.
Goydos double bogeyed at the notorious par three 17th having found the water as a result of taking a wedge, instead of sticking with the nine iron which had brought him success at the same hole earlier in the day.
Garcia capitalised by knocking his tee shot to within four feet and stayed calm with the putter to record a win which moves him up from 16th to third on the world points list, from which the first five of Nick Faldo's Ryder Cupteam will come.
It's just a lot of hard work that is starting to pay off," said Garcia.
"It made me feel good for everybody that matters to me."
He admitted to feeling very confident as he stepped up to take the decisive putt.
"Everything was calm, every single part of my body," he said.
"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."
Meanwhile Goydos' caddie, Scott Saginac, believes the American's fate was down to bad luck, rather than poor club selection.
"He hit a great shot. It was crisp, right out of the middle of the club and while it was in the air I thought it was perfect," he said.
"Paul thought it was good, Sergio thought it was good, we all thought it was good. And then it dropped in the water.
"Five seconds earlier or five seconds later it could have ended up two feet from the pin."
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