World number 12 golfer Sergio Garcia powered his way through a thrilling playoff at Vietnam's Ho Tram Open on Sunday to earn his 23rd career victory.
The inaugural event in Hanoi ended with a climactic four-way playoff with Taiwan's Lin Wen-tang, India's Himmat Rai and Thailand's Thaworn Wiratchant also vying for victory.
During the playoff's first extra hole on 18, Garcia nailed a mammoth 35-foot birdie putt. It was matched by Rai, who smoothly converted from five feet after the overnight leader Lin and Thaworn missed their birdie attempts.
Following Lin and Thaworn's exit, the day was Garcia's after Rai hit a disastrous shot into the rough and missed a putt for par.
"On the second play-off hole, I just rushed it. I wasn’t feeling comfortable with my grip and I should have backed off,” said Rai.
After wobbling early with a bogey on 10 and a double bogey on 17, Garcia finished the day with a par for the victory.
"Winning is never easy. I was fortunate and you have to be lucky to win. I was fortunate to get a second chance after I pretty much gave it away," said the Spaniard in comments supplied by the organisers.
"I’m very happy as I haven’t won in a while."
Scores after round 4 of the Ho Tram Open:
270 – Sergio Garcia (ESP) 66-68-68-68, Himmat Rai (IND) 66-69-68-67, Thaworn Wiratchant (THA) 64-71-68-67, Lin Wen-tang (TPE) 65-67-68-70
(Garcia wins with a par on the second play-off hole)
271 – Thomas Bjorn (DEN) 69-70-68-64
273 – Sam Cyr (USA) 69-69-70-65, Shaun Norris (RSA) 66-71-65-71
274 – Sunghoon Kang (KOR) 72-68-67-67
275 – Chawalit Plaphol (THA) 68-67-72-68, Terry Pilkadaris (AUS) 71-67-69-68, Paul Peterson (USA) 66-70-68-71
276 – Nicholas Fung (MAS) 65-70-72-69, Charlie Wi (KOR) 62-72-72-70
277 – Jeunghun Wang (KOR) 75-67-70-65, Prom Meesawat (THA) 69-71-68-69, Geoff Ogilvy (AUS) 69-70-67-71.