Garcia ends Euro drought

Garcia: closing 67 good enough

Castello Masters
Final leaderboard
GB&Ire unless stated
-20 S Garcia (Spn)
-17 P Hedblom (Swe)
-15 A Noren (Swe)
-14 S Dyson
-14 S Kjeldsen (Den)

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Sergio Garcia cruised to his first European Tour title since 2005 at the Castello Masters, claiming victory by three shots.

The Spaniard - hosting the tournament on the course where he learnt his golf - started the day with a four-shot lead and was rarely troubled after an early scare.

Despite opening with a birdie, Garcia saw his advantage whittled down to just one when playing partner Peter Hedblom picked up shots at the first four holes.

When a nervous-looking Garcia, watched by relations, friends and neighbours, bogeyed the short sixth, he was briefly caught by the Swede.

But back-to-back birdies immediately re-established his cushion.

The lead over Hedblom was still two standing on the 17th tee, but a missed five-foot par putt ended the Swede's challenge.

Both men parred the last, Garcia's 67, although his worst round of the week, good enough to earn him the third of a million euros first prize.

Run of seconds

It ended a run of seven second places since his win at the European Open three years ago in Switzerland.

Garcia dedicated his win to his mentor Severiano Ballesteros, who is recovering from a third operation on a brain tumour at La Paz Hospital in Madrid.

"This win is for Seve and for all his family," Garcia told reporters. "I hope this helps him to get a little better.

"It feels awesome to win here and we are looking forward to years of coming back.

"Peter played amazingly and it was good to make the putt on the seventh to get it back. Then I felt I was in control on the back nine."

The other players who were tied for second in Garcia's shadow overnight, including Englishmen David Lynn and Simon Dyson, failed to close the gap and ultimately tied for fourth after rounds of 69.

Drama

There was drama as two players battled for the 118th place on the Order of Merit which meant retaining their card for next season.

With 118th-placed Patrick Sjoland failing to make the cut, Garry Houston needed just under 11,000 euros to keep his card but finishing two under overall left him short.

Francois Delamontagne was eventually the lucky man, scraping in by about 300 euros despite carding a three-over 74.

"It was a terrible day for me," Delamontagne said. "I wanted to get maximum effort from myself but I was just terrible. I had four top-10s this year and should never have been worrying about tour school."