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CRANS-SUR-SIERRE (Switzerland), Sept 5: Sergio Garcia clinched his first European Tour title of the season with a one-shot victory at the European Masters on Sunday after chipping in for birdie at the par-three 16th. The world number six, one stroke clear overnight, had surrendered a four-shot advantage with a mid-round stumble before recovering on his way to a three-under-par 68 and a 72-hole total of 14-under 270.
Sweden’s Peter Gustafsson secured second place with an equal best-of-the-week 64 with British Ryder Cup player Paul Casey a further shot back in third after a 66.
Defending champion Luke Donald, also of Britain, returned a 69 to tie for fourth at 11 under with compatriot Garry Houston, who carded a 70.
Garcia had looked unassailable after reeling off four birdies in five holes from the fourth, overpowering Cran-sur-Sierre’s shorter par-fours and forging well ahead of the chasing pack with a 200-foot birdie putt on eight.
However, he lost grounds with bogeys on 10 and 14 before effectively sealing the sixth European Tour victory of his career with his chip-in on 16.
Leading final round scores:
270 — Sergio Garcia (Spain) 66, 65, 71, 68.
271 — Peter Gustafsson (Sweden) 69, 70, 68, 64.
272 — Paul Casey (Britain) 67, 72, 67, 66.
273 — Luke Donald (Britain) 66, 72, 66, 69; Garry Houston (Britain) 65, 69, 69, 70.
274 — Pierre Fulke (Sweden) 69, 67, 70, 68.
275 — Philip Golding (Britain) 68, 73, 66, 68; Stuart Little (Britain) 69, 70, 69, 67.
276 — Jamie Spence (Britain) 71, 70, 70, 65; Paul Broadhurst (Britain) 67, 69, 71, 69; Steven O’Hara (Britain) 70, 69, 70, 67; Emanuele Canonica (Italy) 71, 68, 69, 68.
277 — Miguel Angel Jimenez (Spain) 71, 69, 67, 70; Henrik Stenson (Sweden) 70, 68, 69, 70.
278 — Damien McGrane (Ireland) 68, 71, 74, 65; Bradley Dredge (Britain) 72, 68, 67, 71.
NORTON (Massachusetts): Local hero Billy Andrade played another round of bogey-free golf for a share of the lead in a group of five at 10-under-par after third-round play at the $5.5 million Deutsche Bank Championship Sunday.
World number one Tiger Woods, who had led by a stroke after opening with a 65, continued to struggle, following his second-round 73 with a 72 to finish at three-under 210, seven shots off the pace.
Leading third round scores:
203 — John Rollins (US) 72, 68, 63; Jason Bohn (US) 68, 68, 67; Carl Pettersson (Sweden) 68, 67, 68; Billy Andrade (US) 66, 68, 69; Olin Browne (US) 68, 65, 70.
204 — Kent Jones (US) 70, 71, 63; Joey Sindelar (US) 67, 68, 69.
205 — Bo Van Pelt (US) 71, 69, 65; Brett Wetterich (US) 68, 68, 69; Robert Allenby (Australia) 69, 65, 71; Jeff Brehaut (US) 67, 66, 72.
206 — Jim Carter (US) 70, 70, 66; Vaughn Taylor (US) 72, 67, 67; Justin Rose (Britain) 72, 66, 68; Marco Dawson (US) 69, 66, 71.
207 — Brad Faxon (US) 74, 67, 66; Tommy Armour III (US) 69, 70, 68; Darron Stiles (US) 69, 69, 69; Brandt Jobe (US) 71, 67, 69; Fred Couples (US) 70, 67, 70; Briny Baird (US) 66, 69, 72.
208 — Chris Smith (US) 71, 69, 68; Charles Howell III (US) 72, 67, 69; Doug Barron (US) 68, 70, 70.
209 — D.J. Brigman (US) 72, 68, 69; Brenden Pappas (South Africa) 71, 68, 70; Justin Leonard (US) 71, 68, 70.
210 — David Peoples (US) 71, 70, 69; Brendan Jones (Australia) 70, 70, 70; Bradley Hughes (Australia) 71, 68, 71; Tiger Woods (US) 65, 73, 72.—Reuters
