Garcia ends three-year wait with Castello win

Former world number two Sergio Garcia ended a near three-year wait for a ninth European Tour success when he claimed the Castello Masters title in emphatic fashion yesterday. The Spaniard, 31, held off a charge by compatriot Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano to win by 11 strokes with a closing eight-under 63 for a 27-under-par 257 four-round total. In a staggering low-scoring final day, a 64 by Fernandez-Castano failed to put a dent in Garcia’s winning aggregate, which would have been a tour record but for preferred-lies. It was a second Castello Masters win on his home Mediterraneo course by the tournament’s promoter Garcia in four years and gave him a first title since clinching the elite Champions event in China in November, 2008. Leading by eight shots overnight, Garcia looked set for an easy victory, but Fernandez-Castano made sure he could not waver. After a quiet start, Garcia replied to Fernandez-Castano’s eagle and five birdies in seven holes with four birdies in six.  That kept his rival at a seven-shot arm’s length by the time he turned for home. Garcia’s foot then stayed firmly on the pedal and four birdies in six holes, after the turn, left no doubt about the destination of the $456,000 first prize.

Choi triumphs in own tournament

Seoul: South Korean star K.J. Choi claimed a convincing two-stroke victory in his own tournament, the inaugural CJ Invitational, after closing with a five-under-par 67 yesterday.The 41-year-old overcame an overnight three-shot deficit with an outward 34 before taking a firm grip of the $750,000 tournament, sanctioned by the Asian Tour and Korean Golf Tour, in foggy Yeoju.He wowed the crowd with three birdies on the homeward nine in front of large galleries at the Haesley Nine Bridges Golf Club.Asian Tour number one Noh Seung-Yul, also of South Korea, put up a strong fight before settling for second place following a final-round 66, while American star Anthony Kim and overnight leader Lee Ki-Sang settled for a share of third place following rounds of 73 and 74 respectively.It was Choi’s second victory of the season following his triumph in the Players Championship in the US and his fifth career title on the Asian Tour, where he is an honorary member.“This week I had so many things going on. I didn’t really think about the win. I was busy looking after the players and taking care of the sponsors,” said Choi.“Probably the fact that I wasn’t thinking about the tournament helped me feel at ease. The way it turned out, I’m happy to be the inaugural champion and even though I am hosting this event, it gives a special meaning,” said Choi, who totalled 17-under-par 271 and pocketed $118,875.Choi surged into the lead with a four-foot birdie on 10 but had to make two crucial par saves on 11 and 15 to preserve his advantage. He then opened up a two-shot cushion with a superb 20-foot curling putt on 16.