Sergio Garcia started off his 2009 season in the best possible way winning the rain-affected HSBC Champions Tournament in Shanghai. The play-off victory against Ryder Cup colleague Oliver Wilson not only confirmed the resurgence of the Spaniard, whose has had 3 victories in the last 7 months, but also launched him into second place in the World Golf Rankings.

With both finishing on -14, a birdie at the first extra hole was enough for Garcia after Wilson’s approach had come agonisingly close to holing out before spinning back across the green. Wilson was unable to hole his putt and so finished second for the 8th time in his career, a fact that he appears to be well aware when he commented- "There was a time when I was pleased to be finishing there and it’s gone. It’s about time I took my chance."

As with any victory for Garcia, he was swiftly asked about his Major chances, "My next goal is trying to win a Major…I’m very close. Maybe this season". Having apparently conquered his putting woes, who’s to say that this season won’t be the one.

Selected others: T3 Ogilvy -13, T8 Mickelson -9, T11 Harrington -7, T14 Karlsson -5, T20 Villegas -3