Garcia strolls to Thailand Championship win

Spaniard nets 21st career title and fourth on Asian Tour

Sergio Garcia celebrates winning the Thailand Golf Championship on Sunday. Paul Lakatos / AFP

BANGKOK // Spain’s Sergio Garcia eased to his first title of 2013 with a four-shot win at the Thailand Golf Championship on Sunday.

The Spaniard fired a four-under 68 on the final day of the US$1 million (Dh3.67m) Asian Tour event, giving him a dazzling 22-under-par finish for the tournament.

It was the 21st career victory and fourth Asian Tour title for Garcia, who has committed to play in Abu Dhabi next month and likely will play in Dubai in February.

Starting the day four shots behind, runner-up Henrik Stenson came within two shots of Garcia midway through the round. But that was as close as it got for the Swede, who matched Garcia’s 68 for the round.

France’s Alexander Levy clinched third place with a final-round 69, to end four strokes behind Stenson at the Amata Spring Country Club.

Defending champion Charl Schwartzel was among a quartet of players who shared fourth place. He had his second consecutive 67, but was unable to recreate his 2012 effort.

Joining the South African were England’s Justin Rose, Yuki Kono of Japan and India’s Anirban Lahiri. Chapchai Nirat was Thailand’s best finisher in joint eighth place with American Rickie Fowler.

“It was great to win in my last tournament of the year,” said Garcia, who finished with six birdies and dropped two shots in his final round.

With Stenson playing the best golf of his career, Garcia said he knew he could not afford too many mistakes.

“Henrik has been playing so well lately, I could not afford to slip up,” said Garcia, who stumbled on the last three holes of the front nine before recovering with three quick birdies.

With two holes to go he knew all he had to do was keep the ball out of the water to ensure victory.

“I hope I can carry this form into next season,” he said.

Stenson was full of praise for Garcia’s performance.

“Sergio just played so well,” he said. “Being four shots back, I needed something really good to happen, but I missed a couple of good birdie opportunities.”

The Swede said that when Garcia notched three straight birdies on the back nine he knew it was “done and dusted”.

Rose, the US Open champion, struggled to recover from a bad start but said he had enjoyed the “fun tournament” in the Thai sun.

“But I will be happy to put down my clubs for a few weeks,” he said. “I’ve had an amazing year.”