Sports

Garcia claims first win of year at Dutch Open

September 15, 2019
Spain's Sergio Garcia. — Courtesy photo
Spain's Sergio Garcia. — Courtesy photo

AMSTERDAM — Spain's Sergio Garcia shot a final-round three-under par 69 and finished at 18-under overall to win the 100th edition of the KLM Open in Amsterdam by a single stroke on Sunday.

The win was Garcia's 16th on the European Tour and the 2017 Masters champion's first title in the Netherlands, which he happily celebrated with his one-year-old daughter Azalea on the green at the 18th hole.

Danish 18-year-old Nicolai Hojgaard, who was two strokes behind the Spaniard after the third round, nearly tied for the lead but missed an eagle putt on the 18th and finished with a birdie to sign for a four-under 68 and second place.

A cautious Garcia, who bogeyed the 17th, played it safe on the par-five 18th, sinking a one-foot putt to clinch the title.

"Great week, amazing," Garcia said. "We had a great week and it's great to win again. It was nice I only needed a five on the last."

Garcia's final round was far from ideal. He sank seven birdies – including four on the front nine – but they were offset by four bogeys.

However, he successfully held a 54-hole lead for the ninth time in his European Tour career as others struggled.

Fellow overnight leader Callum Shinkwin of England carded a poor round of 74 to drop down the leaderboard to fifth.

Englishman Matt Wallace finished third, three shots behind, while his compatriot James Morrison finished one shot further back in fourth. — Reuters


September 15, 2019
HIGHLIGHTS
Sports
day ago

Al Hilal's comeback effort falls short in AFC Champions League semi-finals

Sports
3 days ago

Aspiring fencer Josh Brayden aims for Olympic glory

Sports
3 days ago

Swedish rider Eckermann wins 2024 Show Jumping World Cup in Riyadh