Garcia wins Buick Classic

Harrison, New York:

The Westchester Country Club in Harrison, New York played host to the final round of the Buick Classic. Padraig Harrington found the fifth hole to his liking, when he sank an eagle putt, which was followed by a strong Tiger Woods-like fist pump. Tom Byrum also made eagle, with a putt on the ninth hole. This lowered his score to 13-under par and gave him a two-shot edge. The best approach shot of the day was executed by the eventual winner, Sergio Garcia. On the 10th hole, from a horrible lye, the Spaniard lofted his shot over a bush and onto the green, well within birdie range. Harrington continued his fine putting on the 10th hole, where a birdie putt lowered his score to 12-under par, one shot behind the then-leader Tom Byrum. Byrum created a logjam of golfers at 11-under par, with a birdie on the 17th hole. But Garcia put pressure on the others with a short birdie putt on the 18th hole that lowered his score to 12-under par. Harrington responded to Garcia's challenge, and sank a pressure birdie putt from the low rough on the 18th hole. He again pumped his fist as the putt got him level with Garcia at 12-under par. Rory Sabbatini ensured there would be a three-way playoff with a birdie putt of his own at the 18th hole. His wife and baby son were also pleased with the putt. There would be no smiles for Harrington on the first playoff hole, where he missed a putt that would have won the tournament. But on the third playoff hole, Garcia became a repeat winner of this event, when sank the birdie putt to win the tournament. The 24-year-old also won the Buick Classic in 2001. Garcia was able to convert the putt, where Harrington could not on the first playoff hole. (AP)