SPAIN’S SERGIO GARCIA ended with a spectacular 11-under-par 61 to win the weather-shortened $2 million Iskandar Johor Open on Sunday.
Thunderstorms reduced the tournament to a 54-hole contest but Garcia showed he was still in control, securing his 24th professional victory with a winning total of 18-under-par 198.
American Jonathan Moore closed with a 61 to secure his second runner-up finish this season. Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee signed for his week’s best score of 65 to take third place.
Overnight leader Daniel Chopra of Sweden was fourth after a final 69.
Thailand’s Thaworn Wiratchant, signing off with a 65, could only take a share of fifth place. But he still lifted the Asian Tour Order of Merit title for the second time since 2005.
“It has been a long week, obviously because of the weather and I couldn’t have asked for a better way to end the week,” Garcia said in comments supplied by the organisers.
“The most important thing about playing under these kinds of conditions is to keep the momentum going, especially with so much disruption. It’s hard to keep up mentally and I sort of did that yesterday morning where I finished poorly.
“But today, I came back strongly. I played very solid in my front-nine and made four in a row in the back-nine to give myself a nice solid lead going into the last two holes,” said Garcia.
It was also a day to remember for Moore, who started his spectacular run when he birdied two of his opening three holes.
He then parred his fourth hole before going on to reach the turn in 29 after carding further birdies on holes five, six, eight as well as an eagle-three on the ninth hole.
The American set the stage for an amazing finish when he stormed home with four more birdies on holes 12, 13, 15 and 16.
“It was a really special day. I had a clear focus today and felt good on the greens. It was probably the best I have ever done because I didn’t have any fear over any shots,” he said.
