HARRISON, New York, 15 June 2004 — Spain’s Sergio Garcia captured his fifth PGA Tour title on Sunday after he battled past South Africa’s Rory Sabbatini and Ireland’s Padraig Harrington on the third playoff hole at the Buick Classic.
Garcia stroked in a five-footer for birdie, just after Sabbatini had missed his 20-foot attempt, to land his second Buick title in four years and his second win of the season, both in playoffs.
Halfway leader Fred Couples shot a three-under-par 68 to finish tied for fourth on 274 with world No. 3 Vijay Singh, who carded a one-under-par 70, and journeyman Tom Byrum (72).
Britain’s Luke Donald double-bogeyed the first hole and never recovered, shooting an even-par 72 to finish alone in seventh on 275 for his third top-10 of the season.
First round leader Fredrik Jacobson (69) never came close to his Thursday 64 and finished in eighth place another stroke back.
Kenny Perry had the best round of the day, a five-under 66, to move into a tie for ninth with South African Tim Clark, Chris DiMarco, Bo Van Pelt and Cameron Beckman on 277.
Neither Ernie Els (70) or Phil Mickelson (73) could make a significant move up the leaderboard and each finished tied for 16th on 279.
The victory makes Garcia one of the favorites for next week’s US Open, which begins on Thursday at Shinnecock Hills in New York.
Garcia, Harrington and Sabbatini all birdied the 18th hole to get into the playoff and were again faced with the uphill 526-yard par-five in sudden death, but none were able to break par a second time.
With Sabbatini and Garcia missing their birdie putts, Harrington had the best chance to take the win, just lipping out a seven-footer for birdie.
On the second playoff hole, the par-four 17th, Sabbatini and Garcia successfully negotiated short par putts after birdie attempts, but Harrington had to chip off the fringe and was left with a nine-footer for par that he could not convert.
The playoff was down to two and both players hit the ball right off the tee as they replayed the 18th, Garcia in the bunker and Sabbatini in the rough. The pair were forced to lay up short of the green and the Spaniard’s superior approach shot put him in position to seal the victory.
Garcia started the day four shots back of the lead at eight-under, but with the exception of Perry, he put together the best round of the day, shooting a 67. The score was even more impressive considering his poor start that included two bogeys over the first three holes.
Over the next 15 holes, however, Garcia was six-under-par, including a birdie-par-birdie finish and set the bar at 12-under-par.
