Sergio Garcia, at 32 years of age, is returning to his old self, the great player that took him to almost the top of the world rankings thanks to his creative and ambitious game. Now the player from Borriol has won the Iskandar Johor Open of Malaysia after signing an impressive card with 61 strokes in the third and last round of a tournament that had to be shortened due to torrential rains.
Heavy storms in southern Malaysia had already cut the season-ending Asia Tour championship to 54 holes and more adverse weather forced a further delay on Sunday.
The Spaniard, however, did not let that affect him, as he played great golf finishing the three rounds with an 18 under par total of 198 and winning by three strokes over the American Jonathan Moore, who finished the third round with the same strokes as Garcia.
Thongchai Jaidee closed the podium with 65 strokes in the last round to reach a total of 202, four more than Sergio Garcia. Javi Colomo from Extremadura finished the tournament in fourteenth position with a total of 209 strokes.
This tournament was the last of the Asian Tour season and was endowed with two million dollars in prize money.
The Spaniard won his second individual title of the season in Malaysia: in August he won the Windham Championship in Greensboro, in the United States, and the following month his performance was decisive in the European team’s historic victory in the Ryder Cup in Medinah.
“I am especially excited,” he added, “to dedicate this victory to my nephew and godson Erik, the son of my sister Mar and Pablo Hernandez (a footballer from Castellón who is currently playing for Swansea City AFC)”.
“It has been a complicated tournament and a very long week,” continued Sergio, “with many interruptions that make you lose your rhythm and concentration, but I played very well, solid and consistent, leaving me many birdie opportunities and the putts went in. The organization has done a great job making it possible for us to play three rounds”.
“The beginning of the season was a little frustrating, I was hitting the ball well and, unfortunately, it was not reflected in the result; I had some weeks that were very hard. Today, I am happy. Last week was decisive in today’s victory, which has given me a lot of confidence,” said the Castellon native.
“Now, to rest for five weeks, the year has been long and I need to rest. I want to enjoy my family and friends and, above all, my nephew,” he concluded.
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