Garcia's ace rewarded

Spaniard gets European Shot of the Month award



Sergio Garcia's first hole-in-one as a professional has been voted as the European Tour's Shot of the Month for January.The Spaniard's ace topped a poll on the Tour website ahead of Abu Dhabi Golf Championship winner Robert Rock and Graeme McDowell.

Garcia smote a pure seven iron from the tee at the 186-yard 12th hole in the first round in Abu Dhabi, and his ball pitched and spun from the right of the pin and rolled gently into the cup. His achievement earned him a three-night stay at the Emirates Palace every year for the rest of his life, a prize also awarded to McDowell when he emulated the feat at the same hole in the final round.

But it was Garcia's shot that earned 32% of the votes, while Rock polled 26% for his superb approach to 10 feet at the 14th hole from a fairway bunker on the final day. Rock duly converted the birdie putt and went on to earn worldwide recognition as he held off Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy to clinch the biggest victory of his career.  - http://www1.skysports.com/