Pablo Larrazabal defeats Sergio Garcia in playoff to win the BMW International Open
Pablo Larrazabal won the BMW International Open in a sudden death playoff match against Sergio Garcia at the par-72 Golfclub München Eichenried in Munich, Germany. The Spaniard lifted his second European Tour trophy with this win, which earned him €333,330 worth of prize money.
Larrazabal was tied with a score of 16-under par in regulation with Garcia in the final round. To end the dilemma, the duo stepped onto the par-5, 18th hole, but could not outdo each other, as both signed for a birdie.
Walking back to the tee box for the third time in the day, Larrazabal drove the ball onto the centre of the fairway, which helped him hit the green in regulation en route to another birdie. Similar action was shown by Garcia who drove the tee shot over the water hazard and later found the rough on the left side as his landing area. The player hit a 3-wood to rescue the ball from the long grass and plunged the bunker to reach the green. Like his compatriot, Garcia putted for a birdie and proceeded towards the third playoff hole to meet the fate of the tournament.
The third playoff hole was the par-3, 12th, which was par-equaled by the duo. Larrazabal hit a long and straight tee shot, but the wind deflected the shot and the ball landed 15 feet away from the green. The player tried to make a birdie putt, but the shot missed the left lip and he had to settle at par. Similar fate was met by Garcia’s shot that found the green, but lipped out of the cup, while going inside.
Proceeding towards the par-3, 17th hole, Larrazabal hit another superb tee shot that landed 12 feet away from the green. In order to bring the ball back on the green, the player chipped from outside and managed to save par. Meanwhile, Garcia planned a similar shot that landed on the fringe and hence, he too settled for a par.
The battle moved to par-5 18th, when Larrazabal hit a birdie from a distance of 22 feet and Garcia effort missed the cup. The winner walked towards the winner’s podium to lift the trophy, which he earned after defeating his childhood hero, Garcia.
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