Sergio Garcia surges to two-stroke lead in The Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass

From WorldGolf.com News Services

Something about playing the Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass seems to agree with Sergio Garcia.

Searching for his first PGA Tour victory in three years, Garcia opened with a 6-under-par 66 Thursday in The Players Championship at Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. That makes three consecutive impressive rounds at TPC Sawgrass for the 28-year-old Spaniard, who shot 67-66 on the weekend last year to finish as the runner-up to Phil Mickelson.

Thursday's 66 was good enough for a two-stroke lead over Kenny Perry and Paul Goydos.

A six-time PGA Tour winner, Garcia's last three rounds at TPC Sawgrass have been sub-70 after posting just three scores below 70 in his first 26 rounds in The Players. He was a combined 15 over par in his first 26 rounds on the course, but is a combined 17 under in his last three.

"I guess it just fits my eye," Garcia told reporters when asked about TPC Sawgrass.

Garcia is attempting to snap a string of 53 consecutive PGA Tour starts without a victory this weekend in the tournament widely regarded as golf's unofficial fifth major. The first-place prize money is $1.7 million and the 144-player field includes 101 tour winners.

However, Garcia said, it's not the victory drought driving him.

"It doesn't matter," Garcia said. "Even if I would have won last week, I would still be as motivated trying to win this week, so that doesn't change. I don't think it changes for any of us.

"So at the end of the day, the only thing I can do is keep working on it, keep giving myself chances, and it's going to happen. I feel like I'm getting closer and closer — at least now I feel like I can do it and it's just a matter of being able to do it."

The book on Garcia has been that his shaky putting is the only thing holding him back from becoming a consistent winner. He disagrees.

"It's a lot of things involved," Garcia said. "Of course, if you don't putt well, it doesn't help. Obviously you hit a couple of bad shots here and there at the wrong time and it costs you, too."

Nevertheless, Garcia has been working with golf teacher Stan Utley to recapture his old putting form. To that end, he's also using the same putter that he used back in 2000.

"[I'm] just trying to get those good sensations from the past when I was comfortable with my putting," Garcia said. "I really like the way I'm striking it. I'm pretty happy with everything that's going on."

Garcia did most of his damage on the back nine in the first round, recording four birdies against no bogeys. He had three birdies on the front nine with his only blemish a bogey at No. 8.

Mickelson, who is trying to become the first player to successfully defend his title in The Players, opened with a 2-under 70 and is among 14 players tied for ninth. The 33-time PGA Tour winner owns three top-10 finishes in the event in 15 career starts.

"I think knowing that I've played well here in the past and that I've won gives me a little bit more confidence playing the golf course and maybe takes a little bit of pressure off," Mickelson told reporters. "I had been wanting for so long to play well here and I may have even been pressing a little bit trying to get low scores out here. Consequently, I really haven't had good performances here until last year."

Steve Elkington, Ian Poulter, Heath Slocum, Niclas Fasth and Todd Hamilton are all tied for fourth at 3-under 69. The logjam at 2-under 70 includes Mickelson, Fred Couples, Angel Cabrera, Jose Maria Olazabal, Boo Weekley and last week's Wachovia Championship winner Anthony Kim.

Masters champion Trevor Immelman withdrew from the tournament, citing illness.

As for Garcia, he's now held at least a share of the first-round lead seven times in his career. In six previous attempts, he has gone on to finish second three times but hasn't been able to get the victory.

That's yet another string Garcia would like to break.

"This is definitely one of the tournaments I would love to win and this is our championship and everybody wants to get their hands on this trophy.

"I've been close two or three times, so I'm looking forward to give myself plenty more chances and hopefully come through."

May 9, 2008