Kapaalua, Hawaii — The grandiose goals that Sergio Garcia set for himself made it clear he thought he was capable of toppling Tiger Woods. The young Spaniard certainly came out swinging.
Garcia made a pair of 10-foot birdie putts on the 18th hole Sunday, the first one to get into a playoff with PGA champion David Toms and the second one to win the Mercedes Championships in the first PGA Tour event of the year.
"You can't dream of a better way to start the year," Garcia said.
His ultimate goal is to win the money title on the PGA Tour and the European tour, which no one has ever done.
When the final putt fell, Garcia dropped his putter and raised his arms, jubilant as ever. Tournament officials approached the 18th green in Garcia's new Mercedes SL500 Sport car, but the bigger prize is his $720,000 check.
"I'm leading the money list," Garcia said. "When I get old I can say to my nephews, 'I was the money leader for at least one week."'
Maybe longer, especially since he will go over to the Sony Open in Honolulu next week and compete in another $4 million tournament while Woods heads to New Zealand.
Garcia closed with a 9-under 64 and finished at 18-under 274. It reminded him of his victory in South Africa in November, when he closed with a 9-under 63 and beat Ernie Els in a playoff.
Toms birdied four of the last six holes to shoot 67.
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