Sergio Garcia wins second consecutive Valderrama Masters

SOTOGRANDE, Spain (AP) — Sergio Garcia won his third Andalucia Valderrama Masters on Monday, finishing the rain-shortened European Tour event four shots ahead of Shane Lowry.

 

Garcia shot a 2-under 69 for a 12-under 201 total in the 54-hole tournament at the Real Club Valderrama in southern Spain. Lowry shot a 66 in the final round.

 

Garcia, the tournament host, had a three-shot lead before the turn when stormy conditions suspended play on Sunday. He had three birdies and a bogey when play resumed on Monday, enough to add to his Valderrama titles in 2011 and 2017.

 

"It's amazing to be able to win here at Valderrama three times. It's a dream come true," the Spaniard said. "This golf course is so challenging and for me to be able to go out there in the conditions we played in all week and shoot three rounds under par means a lot. I'm very proud of that and really excited about the week."

 

 

Lowry was as close as one shot off the lead after a round that included seven birdies. His title chances ended with a double bogey at the par-3 15th hole.

 

"Obviously Shane was playing well, he got close to me, then, unfortunately, he doubled 15 and that gave me a little bit of an extra gap, with his double and my birdie on 14 opening it to four, and we kept it there until the end so that was nice," Garcia said.

 

Lee Westwood (70) finished tied for fifth.

 

Tournament officials reduced the event to 54 holes on Saturday after bad weather had forced several delays.

 

It was the 15th European Tour win for Garcia, the 2017 Masters champion.

 

 

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