Who says this is the off-season?
Two tournaments – both with Masters in the name – played on two different continents produced two big-named winners.
First, it was Rory McIlroy who collected a $2 million first-place prize at the Shanghai Masters when he defeated Anthony Kim on the first playoff hole. McIlroy gave up an early three-shot lead but rallied on the back nine. He had a chance for an outright victory but missed an 8-footer for birdie on 18. Kim then missed a 3-foot par putt on the first playoff hole and McIlroy won when he dropped a short putt for par.
It was McIlroy’s first victory since his eight-shot romp at the U.S. Open in June at Congressional Country Club.
(Click here for the complete details on the Shanghai Masters final round.)
Meanwhile, after remaining winless for three years, Sergio Garcia won for the second consecutive week. El Nino made bogeys on Nos. 6 and 7 in the final round to fall behind fellow countryman Miguel Angel Jimenez, but Garcia rallied with two birdies on the back nine to shoot even par and win the Andalucia Masters by a shot.
The win puts Garcia’s name on Europe’s Ryder Cup radar. He still has work to do but the 2012 matches are at Medinah, a place where Garcia took Tiger Woods toe-to-toe in the 1999 PGA Championship. At that time, many believed Garcia would go on to win multiple major championships. Although that hasn’t happened, you can bet El Nino has his sights set on earnings a trip back to the Windy City.
(Click here for the complete details on the Andalucia Masters final round.)