CASTELLON, Spain — Sergio Garcia picked up his first European win in over three years on his home course Sunday and dedicated the three-shot victory in the Castello Masters to the hospitalized Seve Ballesteros.
Garcia closed with a 4-under-par 67 for a four-day total of 20-under 264 at the Club de Campo del Mediterraneo golf course where he has played since childhood and his father is the club pro. Sweden’s Peter Hedblom (66) finished second.
Garcia immediately turned the attention to Ballesteros, who remains in a Madrid hospital following brain surgery Friday to remove a malignant tumor.
“I couldn’t help but think about Seve,” Garcia said. “I’m sending all my love to him and his family and hope he recovers soon. I hope this victory helps him to get a little better.”
Alexander Noren of Sweden was third after a closing 65 left him at 15-under and five behind Garcia, whose last European win was the 2005 European Masters.
“Getting the tournament here was special for me and my family, but to win it is awesome,” Garcia said.
Beckman goes on birdie binge
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Cameron Beckman tapped in a par putt on the second playoff hole to complete a big comeback — shooting a 7-under 63 in the final round — and beat Kevin Sutherland (66) at the Open.
Beckman, 176th on the money list and 447th in the world ranking entering the tournament, was four shots behind Sutherland at the turn, then made birdies on five of the next seven holes. Sutherland missed putts of 13 and 9 feet that would have won it at the end of regulation.
Footnotes.
John Cook successfully defended his AT&T Championship title in San Antonio, shooting a 6-under 65 for a three-stroke victory over Keith Fergus.
• Helen Alfredsson shot a 7-under 65 to win the Grand China Air tournament in Haikou, beating Yani Tseng by three strokes.
