Garcia doubles up to head Ryder Cup’s money list

The 31-year-old, who ended close to three barren years in winning by a runaway 11-stroke margin in his home Castello Masters last weekend, just held off fellow Spaniard Miguel Angel Jimenez to take the Andalucia Masters at Valderrama. “I’m out of words,” said Garcia after getting up and down from the rough on the last to win by one.

“It’s been two amazing weeks.”

His latest success was followed by an admission that he feared he would never come back from a slump that saw him crash from world No 2 to outside the leading 75 – and quit the game for a while last season.

“Ask Luke Donald,” Garcia said “We had a very tough conversation in Madrid.”

Now, with Donald top of the rankings, they are on course to pick up their unbeaten Ryder Cup partnership in Chicago next September.

“Ryder Cup years are always special,” Garcia added, “so hopefully we can make that team.”

Rory McIlroy claimed golf’s biggest first prize of £1.25m yesterday – but only after losing a three-shot lead and being forced into a play-off.

The 22-year-old, playing his first event since changing management stables, beat American Anthony Kim at the Lake Malaren Shanghai Masters after a final-round shoot-out between the pair.