Garcia wins HSBC Champions
SHANGHAI, China -- Sergio Garcia won the rain-delayed HSBC Champions to take the No. 2 spot in the world ranking behind Tiger Woods, beating Oliver Wilson with a birdie on the second hole of a playoff Monday.
The Spanish star made a 7-foot birdie putt on the par-5 18th -- the only hole used for the playoff at Sheshan Golf Club -- after the Englishman missed a 10-footer.
Garcia forced the playoff by holing a 5-foot birdie on 18 to finish with a 4-under 68 and match Wilson at 14-under 274. Wilson, a surprise star for Europe in the Ryder Cup, reached the playoff by saving his par on 18 with a 7-footer for a 70.
Wilson was attempting to win his first European tour title.
The finish moved Garcia into the No. 2 spot in the world rankings behind Tiger Woods, pushing Phil Mickelson to No. 3.
Mickelson, the 2007 champion, shot a 73 to tie for eighth in the $5 million tournament, five strokes behind the leaders.
Peter Hanson (66) and Geoff Ogilvy (70) finished a stroke off the lead, while Henrik Stenson (71) was three behind.
Children's Miracle Network Classic: Davis Love III hit into the rough and a bunker on the last two holes. Then he hit the jackpot.
Scrambling for pars on both holes, Love shot an 8-under 64 to win his first tournament in more than two years, holding off a late challenge from Tommy Gainey for a one-shot victory Sunday in the Children's Miracle Network Classic at Disney World.
It was the 20th career PGA Tour victory for the 44-year-old Love, giving him a lifetime exemption. Among active players, only Tiger Woods, Vijay Singh and Phil Mickelson have won at least 20 times.
Gainey, who had $65,405 in earnings heading into the final tournament of the year, shot a 30 on the back nine en route to a 64. He made $496,800 to go from No. 228 to No. 148 on the money list. That gets him into the final stage of Q-school, and his conditional status for being in the top 150 should get him about 15 starts next year.
Love went 64-64 on the weekend, the best final 36-hole score in the tournament's 38-year history. He finished at 25-under 263.
Scott Verplank and Steve Marino, tied for the lead going into the final round, shot 71s to tie for third at 20 under.
Erik Compton, who has had two heart transplants and was playing on a sponsor exemption, shot a 72 to tie for 60th. He will play in the second stage of Q-school next week, only six months after his second transplant.