Sun May 4 12:27:08 2008

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Lawrie wins in Spain when Garrido gets wet

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Seville, Spain (Sports Network) - Peter Lawrie won his first European Tour title on Sunday at the Open de Espana when Ignacio Garrido's approach on the second playoff hole found water.

Lawrie, who lost a playoff in this event in 2003, only needed a par on the second extra hole to secure the victory, but it was an amazing 30-foot birdie putt at the first playoff hole that spurred him to the winner's circle.

"I've been in a playoff in the Spanish Open before and let it slip," said Lawrie. "I took this one."

Garrido definitely had the advantage off the tee on the second playoff hole, No. 18 at Real Club de Golf de Sevilla. He found the fairway, while Lawrie managed only to land in a fairway bunker.

Lawrie hit a spectacular approach 12 feet past the hole. Garrido's ball landed near Lawrie's, but spun sideways and rolled into the water.

From the drop area, Garrido hit a good fourth shot, but still had five feet for bogey. Lawrie cozied his birdie effort down to the lip and tapped in for the winning par.

"It's just one of those things," said Lawrie.

Lawrie fired a five-under 67 in the final round, while Garrido could only muster an even-par 72. The tandem finished regulation at 15-under-par 273.

The pair headed back to the 18th hole to start the playoff and both found the left side of the fairway off the tee. Lawrie knocked his second 30 feet past the hole, but Garrido's approach spun back to three feet.

With Garrido in tight, Lawrie knew he had to hole it to continue the extra session. His putt was left, but fell in the side for the much-needed birdie. Garrido now felt the pressure, but cooly tapped in the putt and the duo went back to the 18th tee.

"I hit one of the best putts of my life to keep the playoff alive because I knew he was going to make his," acknowledged Lawrie. "I thought it was going to stay short left, then it snuck in. It was like one in a million chance."

It was a few moments later when Lawrie walked off with the trophy.

The way the two got into the playoff was dramatic in itself. Lawrie, the 2003 Rookie of the Year, birdied four of his last six holes. He had a chance to distance himself further when his outstanding approach from a fairway bunker at the 18th stopped six feet from the hole. Lawrie missed, but got in at minus-15.

Garrido, who struggled to a disastrous three-over 39 on the front, fought to get back into the tournament with two early birdies on his second nine. He three-putted the par-five 16th for a par, then needed a birdie at the last.

Garrido drove into a bunker on the right, but muscled his second 30 feet left of the flag stick. The Spaniard delighted the home gallery when his putt tracked right into the hole.

Unfortunately, Garrido could not grab his third European Tour title and fell to 1-1 in playoffs on the European Tour. He could have joined his father, Antonio, as a champion of the event since the elder Garrido captured the tournament in 1972.

Soren Hansen missed a 10-foot birdie putt on the last that could've got him into the playoff. He settled for a par and a three-under 69 on Sunday. Hansen came in third at 14-under 274.

Miguel Angel Jimenez held the lead until a triple-bogey at the 10th. The Spanish Ryder Cupper shot a one-under 71 and tied for fourth with Alfredo Garcia-Heredia (68) and David Lynn (66). The trio came in at 13-under 275.

Richard Finch carded a four-under 68 and took seventh at minus-12, followed by Martin Erlandsson (71) and Peter Hanson (67), who tied for eighth at 11-under 277.