Sergio Garcia: “I played a la Seve”

• Sergio Garcia captures first PGA Tour title for four years
• AT&T Byron Nelson win draws him level with Seve on nine
• “To be up there with Seve means the world to me,” he said

Sergio Garcia captured his first PGA Tour title in almost four years after taking advantage of a back nine slip up from Brooks Koepka to beat the American in a play-off.

Koepka found himself three shots clear at one stage on the back nine but consecutive bogeys on the 14th and 15th holes pulled Garcia back into contention, before a par was enough to secure the win for the Spaniard to secure the win at the first extra play-off hole.

In doing so, Garcia has tied Seve Ballesteros on nine PGA Tour wins – the most by a Spaniard – with the 36-year-old delighted to be in his company.

CONTINUES BELOW…

“It’s awesome,” he said. “To be up there with Seve it means the world to me and you can kind of say I went a little bit a la Seve today. I definitely wasn’t driving the ball great until the end and couple of iron shots here and there but I was chipping and putting great. Some of his wins were like that and I’m very proud of it today.”

How Sergio won it

Safely aboard. #QuickHits https://t.co/GwTLYaJcJR

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) May 22, 2016

After Koepka found water off the tee, Garcia delivered this solid approach shot to ensure there would be no way back for the American.

What they said

Sergio Garcia: “Feels great. It feels amazing. Obviously Brooks helped me a little bit but I thought I hit three really good shots, tee shot, the second shot and the putt. So, very proud of myself the way I played the last four holes in regulation and it wasn’t easy so very happy with that, yeah.”

Brooks Koepka: “I really didn’t have much the last 36 holes. I had no idea where the ball was going and you can’t play out here when you’re hitting it in the rough. It was a lot of tough things. You kind of play defensively. That’s not really what you want to.”

Jordan Spieth: “It was an off round. Just didn’t really get anything going and kind of stinks, you know, given I had a chance here at a hometown event.”

On social

I’m so happy for you @TheSergioGarcia. Bravo!! Vamos amigo.

— Gary Player (@garyplayer) May 22, 2016

Congrats Ryder Cup partner, Great Win!
I win one, you win the next, let’s make it a habit!@TheSergioGarcia @PGATOUR pic.twitter.com/f2BBdrYf9j

— Jesper Parnevik (@JesperParnevik) May 23, 2016

Great to see @TheSergioGarcia be victories today. It’s been a long wait… @PGATOUR@ATT#ByronNelson

— Annika Sorenstam (@ANNIKA59) May 22, 2016

Final leaderboard

1 – Sergio Garcia (63, 66, 68, 68) -15
2 – Brooks Koepka (65, 64, 65, 71) -15
3 – Matt Kuchar (65, 67, 65, 69) -14
T4 – Colt Knost (70, 63, 69, 65) -13
T4 – Spencer Levin (68, 66, 67, 66) -13

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Sergio Garcia :: What next for the Spaniard?

After returning to winning ways on the PGA Tour, what do you think the rest of the season holds for Sergio Garcia? Leave your thoughts in the ‘Comments’ section below.