Sergio Garcia will extend his run of Major appearances to 49 after earning a place into next month’s Open Championship despite losing a play-off to Spanish compatriot, Pablo Larrazabal in the BMW International Open in Munich.
Pablo Larrazabal captures 2011 BMW International Open. (Photo - www.golfbytourmiss.com)
The pair turned the final round into a virtue all-Spanish shootout to end regulation play locked at 16-under par with both Garcia and Larazzabal recording 68s on the Nord Eichenried course.
Larrazabal then prevailed with a birdie at the fifth extra hole and win for only a second time, and a week before the third anniversary of his 2008 French Open success.
The Barcelona-born son of a fisherman had stunned Colin Montgomerie in winning the French Open and he’s now denied Garcia a first European Tour success in a similar number of years.
“Sergio was one of my heroes growing up and beating him is just a dream,” he said.
“But I am very much emotional because last week my grand dad, Manuel and the captain of our family, died last week.
“So there are so many emotions now and all of the work I did this week is for him. He was the one who of the cousins, all of us, who we would follow all of the time.
“He was the one, and I couldn’t practice too much last week, being so many hours at the hospital and trying to help my grandmother and my mother.
“So it’s been a very, very tough moment for all the family.”
Larrazabal also earns a place into the British Open in finishing top of a mini money list and Garcia second that’s been in effect from last month’s BMW PGA at Wentworth and winding up in Munich.
Pablo Larrazabal with stunning girlfriend, Gaynor and the gleaming BMW International Open winning trophy. (Photo - www.golfbytourmiss.com)
Garcia, who hasn’t won since November 2008 in capturing the HSBC Champions event, roared into the lead in a six-hole stretch mid-courtesy with three birdies from the sixth and then eagles at nine and 11.
But the current World No. 64 then dropped three shots in succession from the 12th hole and then also bogeyed 17.
“I am not too unhappy because one of my goals this week was to definitely qualify for The Open and I have achieved that,” said Garcia.
“Pablo and I played some great golf in the play-off and we both wanted to win the tournament so much, so it was a pity one of us had to lose.
“I was seventh last week in the U.S. Open and now second here in Munich so the game is coming around and I am excited about the next couple of weeks especially The Open as it favourite of all the Majors.”
Five players – Scotland’s Scott Jamieson (64), England’s Mark Foster (72), Holland’s Joost Luiten 67) and the South African pair of Retief Goosen (70) and George Coetzee (70) – shared third place at 14-under par.
Jamieson upstaged and overwhelming crowd favourite, Martin Kaymer to finish five shots fewer than the now relegated World No. 4.
It was the first time they had played together in competition with Jamieson eagling the 12th and then birding four of his closing five holes in a best last round of 64.
It was Jamieson’s lowest score this year and one better than a 65 on day one of the recent BMW Italian Open.
Jamieson’s eagle was the shot of the final round after hitting a male spectator on the shoulder with an errant second shot at the par five, 11th.
