PLAYERS win tops list of five best moments in Garcia's career

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Caryn Levy/PGA TOUR

Sergio Garcia shows off THE PLAYERS Championship trophy after his win in 2008.

Sergio Garcia's professional career began in 1999, and since then he's picked up seven PGA TOUR titles and 11 international wins. Melanie Hauser selects the top five moments in Garcia's 11-year career.

1. 2008 PLAYERS Championship. The one tournament other than a major that everyone wants to win. Garcia had thrown out a closing 66 the year before and finished second to Phil Mickelson. This time, he came from three shots back to force a playoff and beat Paul Goydos on the first hole of sudden death.

2. 2008 PGA Championship. He turned the corner here. In previous major losses (think 2002 U.S. Open and 2007 British Open), he blamed everything but his own game. At Oakland Hills, he threw everything he had at Padraig Harrington. He admitted it wasn't enough.

3. 2001 MasterCard Colonial. His 33rd PGA TOUR start, his first win. The week started with a delayed fine from the European Tour for an argument with referee John Paramour three months earlier and ended with a come-from-behind win over Phil Mickelson and Brian Gay.

4. Ryder Cup. Pick one. He's got Seve's spark and Monty's passion when it comes to this event. Whether he's celebrating with a sprint up the 18th fairway at The Belfry in 2002 or talking about taking it back in 2010, he gives it everything he has. His 14-6-4 record isn't too shabby, either. He's this generation's Mr. Ryder Cup.

5. 1999 PGA Championship. OK. Technically he was a teen and it wasn't in the last decade, but it's hard to overlook that split-legged leap, the unbridled enthusiasm and that fearless attitude we saw in the final round. The kid who wasn't going to back down against Tiger Woods . . . and, that's where all this started.