By Rob Hodgetts BBC Sport at Wentworth

Garrido took the win on the first play-off hole Garrido triumphs in play-off Pictures from Wentworth

Ignacio Garrido seemed destined to win the Volvo PGA championship from the minute Annika Sorenstam opted to take on the men in America.

Among his many accomplishments, former Ryder Cup star Garrido can claim to be the only player to have won a Ladies European Tour event.

The Spaniard caddied for girlfriend Samantha Head, the Ascot-born professional, when she clinched the Nedbank SA Masters in Sun City in 2001.

And she was the first person he spoke to when he found out he was in a play-off with South African Trevor Immelman.

Head, whose twin sister Johanna also plays on the Evian Tour, was too tired to get excited - it was 0300 in Japan where she was playing a tournament.

"She was half-asleep, she didn't really know what was going on," said the 31-year-old Garrido. "She thought she was dreaming."

But he admitted he was also in a daze during the play-off.

"I didn't really know I was in a play-off for the PGA title. I was so happy with how I'd done during the day that it had not settled in. By the time I realised, I had won it.

She has been telling me from the start of the year I just needed a better mind Ignacio Garrido on his girlfriend's advice

"It's a pity she's not here but we'll enjoy it anyway."

Garrido was a member of the victorious European Ryder Cup side in Valderama in 1997.

And he has golf in the blood - father Antonio played in the first European Ryder Cup team, alongside Seve Ballesteros, in the United States in 1979.

The young Ignacio also caddied for Antonio in the PGA Championship when he was in his teens.

But of all the people he credited with helping him along the way, Garrido saved the biggest thank you for Head.

"Sam has helped me so much," said Garrido, who until the victory was trailing his girlfriend in Tour earnings.

"She has been telling me from the start of the year that my golf is there, I just needed a better mind."

After hauling himself level with Immelman with a last-round 65 and then holding his nerve to win the play-off, Garrido has proved they make a winning partnership.