KAPALUA, Hawaii, Jan. 6 (UPI) -- Sergio Garcia, with an avowed goal of leading both the American and European tours in money earnings this year, sank a 10-foot birdie putt on the first playoff hole Sunday to defeat David Toms and claim the season-opening Mercedes Championships.
Garcia, who turns 21 Wednesday, started the day four shots off the pace, but fired a 9-under-par 64 that included a birdie on the final hole to match Toms at 18-under 274. Toms left a 12-foot birdie putt an inch short on the final hole of regulation to miss out on the victory.
They opened the playoff at the 663-yard, par-5 18th, where Toms caught the rough with his second shot and left his third 30 feet right of the pin.
Garcia sent sent a 50-yard chip shot 10 feet past the hole and, after Toms two-putted for par, converted the birdie opportunity into his third career PGA Tour title. Garcia won $720,000 while Toms, the 2001 PGA Championship winner, earned $432,000.
Toms shot a 66 under calm but damp conditions at the Kapalua Bay Plantation Course and fell just shy of his fourth title since May.
Kenny Perry finished alone in third at 275 following a 3-under 69 while defending champion Jim Furyk shot a 65 to claim fourth place at 277.
Scott McCarron, Mark Calc avecchia and Chris DiMarco were all at 278 and Scott Verplank was at 279 and Brad Faxon at 280.
Tiger Woods, who had back-to-back over-par rounds for the first time in a regular tour event in almost three years, bounced back with a 65 to share 10th place at 281 with Bob Estes.
