Garcia captures Players title in playoff

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla., May 11 (UPI) -- Sergio Garcia won the Players Championship Sunday with a par on the first hole of a playoff with Paul Goydos at the TPC at Sawgrass in Florida.

The title was Garcia's seventh on the PGA Tour -- his first since 2005.

The 28-year-old Garcia shot a 1-under-par 71 and Goydos 74 in the final round, tying at 5-under 283 in regulation.

Garcia won with a tap-in par putt after Goydos drove into the water surrounding the island green at the 17th -- the first playoff hole.

The Spaniard collected $1.7 million.

"It's been a lot of work," Garcia said. "I feel like I've been playing well. Unfortunately I hadn't been able to come around and win. Everything was so hard. I'm thrilled the week is over and I managed to come out on top."

Goydos, who was bidding for his third tour victory, said his tee shot on the playoff hole "ballooned a little" before dropping into the water short of the green.

"That's the way it is sometimes," Goydos said.

Jeff Quinney finished in third place, a shot behind Garcia and Goydos. Briny Baird was fourth, another three shots back.