Both players were looking to end barren spells on the European Tour and Larrazabal’s birdie at the fifth extra hole saw him home after the pair had finished two shots ahead of the field.
Larrazabal, without a win since 2008, set the target of 16-under-par 272 with a four-under 68. Then former world No. 2 Garcia, ending a two-year troubled spell in which he plummeted down the rankings, matched him with a closing birdie.
A nerve-wracking shootout came after both players had produced exhilarating golf for long spells to dispute the honors before late mistakes left the title hanging in the balance.
Garcia fired two eagles and three birdies to pick up seven shots in six holes from the sixth. Larrazabal’s five birdies in six holes from the sixth at first nudged him in front.
However, Garcia’s second eagle, coming on the 11th, took him to the top by two shots when Larrazabal, playing ahead, bogeyed the 13th.
Suddenly, the wheels came off for Garcia, though, as he ran up four bogeys in five holes and he needed to birdie the 72nd to force extra holes.
With his second title after victory in the 2008 French Open, Larrazabal picked up a prize of $470,000 and a place in next month’s British Open via a mini order of merit that began five weeks ago.
Garcia’s runner-up place gave him the consolation of also clinching his Royal St George’s place on the mini order of merit.
In Cromwell, Connecticut, Sweden’s Fredrik Jacobson put himself in position for his first PGA Tour victory by capping a flawless round at the Travelers Championship on Saturday with a birdie on the last hole for a one-shot lead.
Jacobson, who has not recorded a bogey all week, fired a seven-under 63 that moved him to a 16-under total of 194 to lead American Bryce Molder (64) into Sunday’s final round.
The Swede, who won three times on the European Tour in 2003 but nowhere since, started the day four shots off the lead but took advantage of ideal scoring conditions as the sun finally broke through after days of rain at TPC River Highlands.
He carded three birdies on the front nine and four more after the turn, including one on 18 where he drained a monster 31-foot putt for the outright lead.
“It was a little bit of a speedy putt and it had a bit of pace so I was hoping it would hit the hole,” Jacobson said. “I was certainly happy when it hit the hole.”
Molder, also seeking his maiden PGA Tour win, had seven birdies and a bogey to be well placed for Sunday.
American James Driscoll (64) was alone in third a further two shots back with a clutch of players tied fourth four strokes off the pace.
“It would mean a lot (to win a PGA title). That’s why I came over and I’ve been here quite a long time now,” Jacobson said.
“I won a few times in Europe and I came over because I wanted to see if I can win here. That’s always been my goal.”
Patrick Cantlay, who took a one-shot lead into the third round after becoming the first amateur to card a 60 on the PGA Tour on Friday, was five shots back after a bogey-bogey finish that saw him slump to a 72.
Cantlay, whose record round will be featured in a display at the World Golf Hall of Fame, made long birdie putts at the ninth and 11th but was unable to build on the momentum.
“I didn’t hit it very good today and I hit a couple bad drives coming in and it cost me,” Cantlay said. “I could have made a couple more putts, as it is in every round.
“But I’m in a good position and probably would have taken it at the beginning of the week, so I’m in a good spot and I’m going to play well tomorrow.”
The second round was finished Saturday morning with the cut set at four-under, a tournament record.
Among those who missed the cut were former US Open champions Geoff Ogilvy and Jim Furyk, British Open winners Justin Leonard and Ben Curtis as well as Americans Anthony Kim and Kenny Perry, the winner here in 2009.
