Sergio Garcia Wins Players Championship in Sudden Death at the Stadium Course

Sergio Garcia wins the Players Championship in dramatic fashion after beating Paul Goydos at the first playoff hole in sudden death.

During the tournament Sergio talked to his ball and kicked his bag. He made it to the playoff with crucial par putts rather than birdies. He didn't always create his own history on the final day but you could tell he knew that by his sense of humor after the tournament. He did do a couple of things near to perfection though; first, he drove the ball almost flawlessly, at one point in the tournament making 14 out of 14 fairways and second he fought tenaciously to stay in the hunt during the final round.

It was Paul Goydos that helped create part of Sergio's story this day. The man that didn't appear to show any nerves as the final day leader demonstrated he was vulnerable to the strains of pressure really only twice Sunday. Once during regulation when he chunked his third shot on the 18^th and failed to make par. The other time was in the playoff on the 17^th when he found the water. With the 17^th at Sawgrass as the first playoff hole, most people knew there would be no need of a second hole to continue the duel and with Goydos finding the water there, most knew that Sergio really only needing to find dry land with his tee shot to win the tournament. Ironically Goydos was the first player to hit his tee shot into the water at the 17^th during the tournament and he was also the last. Sergio going second on the playoff hole hit a wedge to within 5 feet of the pin. Goydos made the green from the drop area but missed his bogey attempt. Sergio then two putted his way to victory.

The sense of humor that Sergio demonstrated after the tournament more than made up for his brashness of the past. On accepting the Players trophy he first thanked Tiger Woods for being absent. Then during the press conference that followed when asked by a reporter what was his favorite thing about winning, Sergio replied that it would be not having to listen to their criticism.

For Sergio his first really big win was a minor major, but those in the know realize this not only puts the 2007 British Open, where he lost in a playoff to Padraig Harrington, in the past for him, it could well be the portent of a major major in his near future.