Garcia wins HSBC Champions

Sergio Garcia becomes the first leader in golf's Race to Dubai after winning the Shanghai tournament.

Sergio Garcia celebrates at the 18th hole after winning the HSBC Champions tournament.

SHANGHAI // The Spaniard Sergio Garcia has won the US$5 million (Dh18m) HSBC Champions tournament in a play-off today over the English golfer Oliver Wilson, a victory that will see him rise to number two in the world rankings. Garcia sank a seven-foot birdie putt from the fringe of the 18th green on the second play-off hole, after the pair finished regulation play in the rain-delayed tournament at 14 under.

The win means Garcia will overtake the American Phil Mickelson as the world number two. Mickelson, the defending champion in Shanghai, fired a disappointing 73 in the fourth round to finish five shots back tied for eighth. "I feel great.... I'm just so proud to win and [reach] number two in the world, so very happy. Great week," said Garcia, 28, shortly after his dramatic victory that gave him his second European Tour title in three weeks.

In the final round that began yesterday afternoon and was completed today due to heavy rain earlier in the tournament, Garcia carded a 68 while Wilson, leader after three rounds, fired a 70. Garcia lifted himself to 14 under on the par-five 18th thanks to a brilliant approach to about eight feet followed by a nerveless putt. Wilson, who was playing in the final group behind Garcia, was already at 14 under and made an equally brilliant put for par on the 18th from about 10 feet to force the play-off.

The players then returned to the 18th tee for the play-off. On the first play-off hole, Garcia missed a 15-foot birdie putt but Wilson left his birdie effort from half that distance short and to the right. On the second play-off hole, again the 18th, Wilson's approach shot almost hit the pin, before spinning back to rest 10 feet short of the hole. Wilson's birdie effort just slipped past the hole and he slumped to his knees and rested his head on the end of his putter in frustration.

Garcia then stepped up to knock in his birdie putt and collect the winner's prize cheque of $833,000, giving him his 19th professional title and the perfect start in the European Tour's lucrative "Race to Dubai". The HSBC Champions is co-sanctioned by the Asian and European Tours. It is also the first tournament of the European Tour's 2009 season, which culminates with the inaugural Dubai World Championship in November next year when $20m will be at stake.

The tour's top 60 will qualify for the season-ending tournament, billed as golf's richest event. "It feels be great to be the first leader in the Race to Dubai. I guess that will go down in history so it's nice to achieve something like that," said Garcia. For Wilson, 28, a surprise star in the Ryder Cup this year, the play-off loss meant he was consigned to his eighth runners-up finish on the European Tour without ever having won a tournament.

However, his second place will mean he will rise inside the world's top 50. *AFP