The 2011 BMW INTERNATIONAL OPEN in Munich concluded on Sunday June 26 with a spectacular 5-hole all Spanish play-off between Sergio Garcia and Pablo Larrazabal.
Having putted an eagle on the 11th green from 38 feet, Garcia went 2 clear of close contenders Larrazabal, Goosen and Coetzee, but gave up strokes on 4 of the next 5 holes, while Larrazabal kept his composure and lead by one stroke after holing out on the 18th with par.
Garcia had to score birdie on the 18th and delivered in style, powering his 2nd shot to within 25 feet of the pin, followed by an excellent putt and tap-in.
And so the two Spanish matadors were carted back to the 18th tee to slug it out. What followed was a classic play-off over 5 holes.
Both players, the first time around, went GIR within 20 feet on the 18th, only to miss their putts by a hairline.
On their next attempt on the 18th, Larrazabal had the edge going GIR again with his 2nd, while Garcia fired his 2nd shot onto the left front rough in-between the bunker and the green. But Garcia released a delicate chip to the pin for a tap-in birdie, while Larrazabal missed his eagle-putt again.
The rules of engagement then called for the Spaniards to proceed to 12, 17 and again 18.
12 and 17 were shared with pars for both, while 18 provided the final thriller.
Larrazabal once again went GIR, but Sergio Garcia was unable to hit the green since his tee shot had resulted in a difficult lie in the rough. The Spaniard laid up and produced a gorgeous 3rd to within 3 feet of the pin to give himself a fairly easy chance to hole out and prolong the play-off.
But it was not to be!
Garcia's speed for the short putt was far too strong, considering he also had a slight downhill slope to negotiate, while the Eichenried greens already commanded a high STIMP-meter reading. His putt lipped out on the high side of the cup, made a 90 degree turn and the show-down had ended.
Good friends as they are, the two Spaniards high-fived and embraced. Larrazabal later dedicated his victory to his grandfather, who had passed the week before. Garcia was a gracious 2nd and one could observe that he was happy for his countryman and friend.
In the meantime, Keanu treasured the experience of having been up-close to some of the best players in the world.
Being able to observe close-up how Garcia, Goosen, Larrazabal, Kaymer, Stenson and others produced great golf shots, but also succumbed to minor errors in judgement, like Stenson on the par-5 hole 11, carried great learning value.
Stenson lead the championship after the first two days and was still in the running on the fourth day, but became greedy with a difficult pin placement at the front right of the green just yards away from the enveloping water hazard and a down-slope leading to it from the pin. His ball tasted H2O twice and the resulting quadruple bogey 9 saw him lose contact with the leaders.
And so, with all the inspiration and impressions Keanu experienced during this fabulous competition, he could not resist to take a swing on the 18th play-off hole, while leaving others to wonder, if this 15-year young kid will follow into the footsteps of a Garcia, Kaymer, Goosen or Larrazabal...
