Spain's Sergio Garcia won the Players Championship in a playoff with veteran Paul Goydos at Sawgrass.

Goydos found the water with his tee-shot on the famous par-three 17th in the first playoff hole, before Garcia stepped up to fire superbly to within four feet, rolling in for a par and the tournament.

It is the first playoff at the PGA Tour event since Britain's Sandy Lyle edged out American Jeff Sluman for the 1987 title, the last time a European won the flagship event.

Garcia pushed overnight leader Goydos strongly on the back nine in strong winds gusting up to around 65 kph at the Tournament Players Club, eventually ending with a fine 71 for a tournament total of -5, helped by a superb par-save on the 18th.

However, Goydos still teed off on the par-four last with a one-shot lead. But a poor tee-shot left him in the rough, meaning he could only lay-up with his second before his chip left him 10 feet for the tournament. He missed, taking him and Garcia into a playoff, where the pressure finally got to him.

Jeff Quinney started the day five shots back, but got himself level with Garcia and Goydos late on with a birdie at 16, although he could not find the birdies at 17 and 18 to put the leader, a hole behind, under pressure.

It is Garcia's first win on the US PGA Tour since 2005 and his best finish of the year in the US following his T15th at the World Golf Championships.

Alex Sharratt / Eurosport