Garcia zips past Spieth, Koepka, wins Byron Nelson title in playoff

Sergio Garcia put two balls in the water during Sunday’s final round at the AT&T Byron Nelson, not exactly the type of crunch-time ball-striking that suggests a PGA Tour winner.

But the Spaniard covered up those mistakes with six birdies, then outlasted 54-hole leader Brooks Koepka with a par on the first hole of a sudden-death playoff to secure his first tour triumph in four years and his second career victory at the Byron Nelson.

Garcia, who finished regulation with a 15-under-par total, also won the 2004 Nelson title at the Four Seasons Resort and made his professional golf debut as a 19-year-old at the 1999 Nelson.

“To be able to call myself a two-time Byron Nelson champion is spectacular,” Garcia said. “It feels amazing.”

In particular, Garcia said he appreciated an “emotional” exchange with Peggy Nelson, widow of the tournament namesake, after becoming the first golfer to post multiple Nelson victories at the TPC Las Colinas venue since the event moved to Irving in 1983.

“Peggy told me, ‘Byron, I’m sure he’s looking down with a big smile and very happy,’ ” Garcia said. “That means a lot. I have a lot of respect for all the legends in the sport, and he was one of the biggest.”

Garcia, 36, rallied from off the pace to pass both competitors in Sunday’s final group, Koepka and Dallas resident Jordan Spieth. Both front-runners posted over-par closing rounds, helping Garcia make up ground with a six-birdie, four-bogey effort of 68.

Spieth, the No. 2 player in the world golf rankings, found just 9 of 18 greens in regulation Sunday. He made six bogeys during a closing 74 that marked Spieth’s highest score at the TPC Las Colinas since a closing 75 as a tour rookie in 2013.

Spieth finished in a tie for 18th place at 10 under despite playing in the final group at the Nelson for the first time as a tour participant.

After six appearances in his hometown event, Spieth’s best finish remains his tie for 16th as a 16-year-old amateur in 2010. Spieth’s final-round scoring average at the Nelson is 72.5 in six career starts.

Spieth’s struggles, as well as a birdie-free back nine by Koepka, allowed Garcia to claw his way into playoff position with two birdie putts in his final six holes of regulation: a 13-footer at No. 13, followed by a 3-footer at No. 16.

When Koepka pulled his drive into a lake in the left rough at No. 18, the playoff hole, Garcia was able to split the fairway with his tee shot and win with a routine par.

The triumph was Garcia’s ninth of his PGA Tour career, matching the total won by Seve Ballesteros, a fellow Spaniard who is in the World Golf Hall of Fame. No Spanish golfer has won more than nine PGA Tour events.

“It means so much to be right next to him,” said Garcia, who considers Ballesteros one of his heroes. “I couldn’t be prouder. It’s amazing. I’m very proud of the way I played the last four holes, and then the playoff hole. Obviously, Brooks helped me a little bit.”

Koepka, who missed a 16-foot birdie putt on the 18th green that could have won it in regulation, mangled the playoff hole with a double bogey. After driving into the water and taking a drop, his approach from the left rough landed well short of the green and provided the opening for Garcia. Koepka called it a continuation of a recurring theme during weekend rounds.

“I really didn’t have much the last 36 holes,” Koepka said. “It’s hard to win when you keep hitting it in the rough. It is disappointing.”

Perhaps no golfer experienced more disappointment Sunday than Spieth, who said it “kind of stinks” that he squandered his best opportunity to date to win a Nelson title. Spieth, 22, considers the event his personal fifth major but said he made some mechanical adjustments during his round that could prove beneficial at the Dean & DeLuca Invitational, which starts Thursday in Fort Worth.

“I had an off day, but we’re going to a golf course next week where I’ve had success,” said Spieth, who finished second at last year’s Colonial tournament. “I feel very confident about next week.”

Down the stretch Sunday, Garcia was the golfer with the confidence and the momentum at the TPC course. After starting the tournament with 44 consecutive bogey-free holes, Garcia acknowledged it was ironic that he secured the title during a round when he made four bogeys, his highest total of tournament week.

“You have to get lucky to win tournaments. Playing well usually is not enough,” Garcia said. “And I did get fortunate, obviously. Brooks gave me an opening. But I still had to hit the shots.”

This story was originally published May 22, 2016 at 5:44 PM with the headline "Garcia zips past Spieth, Koepka, wins Byron Nelson title in playoff."