Garcia equals Seve mark

Langer in runaway major win

WASHINGTON, May 23, (RTRS): Sergio Garcia displayed shades of Seve Ballesteros on his way to victory at the AT&T Byron Nelson in Texas on Sunday, matching his late countryman for most career wins by a Spaniard on the PGA Tour.

Garcia overcame some poor swings to collect his ninth tour victory, beating American Brooks Koepka in a playoff at the TPC Four Seasons in Irving.

“I won a bit a la Seve today. I definitely wasn’t really on,” Garcia said in a greenside interview after finding two water hazards in the final round but still coming through to win.

“It means so much (to match Ballesteros). I played really well the last for a six-shot victory at the Regions Tradition in Alabama on Sunday.

The evergreen 58-year-old German shrugged off a slow start to the final round to claim the first of the year’s five designated major championships on the 50-and-over Champions Tour.

Langer started the day with lead of four strokes and, after a quiet front-nine, caught fire on the back side with five birdies for a closing five-under-par 67 on the Greystone course in Birmingham.

He finished at 17-under 271 for his six career senior major, and now trails only Jack Nickalus (eight) and Hale Irwin (seven)on the all-time list.

“It’s hard to put into words the amazing feeling to win, but to win majors means that much more,” Langer told reporters after his 27th victory on the Champions Tour.

Sergio Garcia of Spain poses with the trophy after winning the AT&T Byron Nelson at the TPC Four Seasons Resort on May 22, in

Irving, Texas. (AFP)