Through the years with Sergio Garcia
By Bill Felber
2020 Sanderson
In his 40s and a new dad since that Masters victory, Garcia was one of the bigger names in a lightly regarded fall field event. His opening 68 was unimpressive by field standards. It left him tied for 17th, four strokes behind leaders Charley Hoffman, Kevin Chapel, Sebastian Munoz and Jimmy Walker.
But Garcia fell into a pleasantly consistent level of performance, adding another 68 and a 66 that left hi tied with J.T. Poston and Cameron Davis, all at 202.
On Sunday Peter Malnati, who had started the day five strokes out of the lead, laid down a 63 and retired to the comfort of the clubhouse to see whether anybody would be able to beat it. Garcia took the challenge.
Two early birdies set up a front nine two-under 34. At the 14th, Garcia eagled the 571 yard par 5, tying Malnati.
With four chances remaining to nab the birdie he needed to avoid a playoff, Garcia registered a disappointing par at the 307 yard par four 15th, the easiest hole on the course. He also parred 16 and 17.
But at the 482 yard par four 18, the second toughest hole all week, Garcia threw a 172 yard iron within two feet of the cup, tapping in for the winning birdie.
His 269 was 2.11 standard deviations better than the field average, ranking eighth among Garcia’s 11 career PGA Tour wins.