Garcia makes amends with victory on home soil
BY Bruce Young | European PGA Tour | 2002 Open de Espana | Wrap | 29 Apr 2002
From villain to hero in a week; not a bad turnaround. Sergio Garcia, who incurred the wroth of his one time idol Seve Ballesteros for not supporting the Continental European team in last week’s Seve Trophy, made amends, with the Spanish galleries at least, with his victory.
Garcia, who until this week had not won on home soil, took a five shot lead into the last round and extended it quickly with a birdie eagle start to his round. A rather out of character run through the middle of his round however had Swede Carl Pettersen draw within a shot through fifteen but a good solid finish by Garcia and a stumble by Pettersen saw Garcia draw clear again. In the end it was the diminutive but amazingly strong Italian, Emanuele Canonica, who finished second four behind Garcia. Canonica who despite being only five foot two is the longest hitter in European golf.
This was Garcia’s eighth win as a professional but interestingly his first in Spain. He has now won four times in Europe, three in the US and once in South Africa.
Pre tournament favourite Retief Goosen rallied home from a slow start, where he had only just made the cut, to finish eighth. Goosen will now, suprisingly perhaps, not play next week’s French Open to rest prior to three big events starting at the Benson & Hedges. Surprising as he has won the French Open before although perhaps understandable as he needs to fit a break in before the rigours ahead.
Stephen Scahill, was the leading player from down this neck of the woods in 26th place, his best finish this season, Jarrod Mosley was 38th and Peter Fowler 59th.
