SINGAPORE – Sergio Garcia produced a masterful display of bogey-free golf over 27 holes yesterday to open his season with a five-shot victory at the weather-disrupted Singapore Open, the Spaniard making his move early and dominating from the front.
The 38-year-old US Masters champion signed for a final-round three-under 68 in glorious sunshine to finish on 14-under 270, well clear of Japan’s Satoshi Kodaira and South Africa’s Shaun Norris, who tied for second on nine-under par.
“I played nicely, but it wasn’t easy. There were some very challenging holes, but I played very well and then was just steady on the back nine to make sure I wasn’t making any bogeys,” Garcia said.
“It was a great week overall. You still need to hit a lot of good shots to do well here, and I was able to do that.”
Garcia had returned to the course at dawn to complete his third round after weather delays forced an early finish on Saturday, and the Spaniard hit the ground running, wiping out a two-shot deficit with four birdies in his last nine holes.
After reeling in overnight leaders Chapchai Nirat and Danthai Boonma and starting the last round with a one-shot lead, Garcia put on an iron-play masterclass as he surged clear of the field on the hazardous front nine at the par-71 Serapong Course.
A birdie on the first hole of his final round doubled his lead, and after a sumptuous approach and monster putt secured back-to-back birdies on seven and eight, Garcia was five shots clear as his nearest rivals wilted under a melting midday sun.
The world No 10 then settled into safety mode, aiming for the centre of the greens rather than attacking the pins, as he parred his last 10 holes.
The co-sanctioned Asian and Japan Tour victory is the 32nd of Garcia’s professional career and sets him up nicely for the defence of his Dubai Desert Classic title on the European Tour next week.