Gracious host! Garcia wins his own tournament

Golf Betting Lines

10/26/2008 - Castellon, Spain (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Sergio Garcia made his first tournament as a host a memorable one.

Garcia posted a four-under 67 on Sunday to win the inaugural Castello Masters Costa Azahar. He finished at 20-under 264 and won by three at Club de Campo del Mediterraneo, his home course and the site of his first tournament in the role of host.

"It means so much," said Garcia, who won this year's Players Championship on the PGA Tour. "It was something extremely special for me and my family. To come out on top, and do it playing well like I did, it was awesome."

Garcia first played this course when he was three years old. He is now the tournament's first winner and dedicated the victory to his ailing fellow countryman, Seve Ballesteros.

"I can't help myself but think of Seve," admitted Garcia. "Obviously he's going through tough times. We're all there with him and hopefully this helps him get a little better."

Garcia won by three shots, but the tournament was much closer.

Peter Hedblom birdied the first four holes on Sunday, but a bogey at 17 derailed his chances. Hedblom shot a five-under 66 and took second place at 17-under 267.

Alexander Noren fired a six-under 65 in the final round and moved into third place at minus-15.

Garcia began the final round with a four-shot lead and the margin stayed at four after both he and Hedblom birdied the first. Hedblom birdied the next three in a row and suddenly this was a competitive tournament.

Garcia bogeyed the par-three sixth after he missed the green and the pair was knotted.

The world No. 5 responded. Garcia rolled in an eight-foot birdie putt at the seventh and made it two in a row with a birdie at eight. Hedblom made pars and Garcia was two ahead after the turn.

Both players birdied the par-five 13th, then Garcia ran home an eight-footer for birdie at the par-three 16th. Hedblom converted a birdie try of his own from closer at 16 and Garcia walked to 17 with a two-shot lead and two to play.

The 17th hole is where Garcia iced the victory.

He found a bunker with his second shot, but played a brilliant long bunker shot inside three feet. Hedblom reached the back fringe with a three-iron second shot. Hedblom tried to apply pressure to Garcia, but his long birdie effort ran six feet by the hole. Hedblom missed the par putt and Garcia saved his to take a three-shot cushion to the last.

Garcia made a safe par at the closing hole for his seventh European Tour victory and his first since hoisting the trophy at the 2005 European Masters.

"Peter played amazing," acknowledged Garcia. "The back nine I felt like I was pretty much under control. I had a lot of good chances. I hit a lot of good putts. Unfortunately, I didn't make many - just enough."

Simon Dyson shot a two-under 69 and tied for fourth place with David Lynn and Soren Kjeldsen, both of whom also managed 69s on Sunday. The group came in at 14-under 270, but Dyson's finish got him much more.

Dyson's fourth-place tie earned him enough money to move into the top 60 for next week's Volvo Masters.

Richard Finch (69) and Peter Hanson (66) shared seventh at minus-13.

Paul Casey (67), Stephen Gallacher (70), Mikael Lundberg (69) and Rory McIlroy (68) tied for ninth place at 12-under 272.