Garcia still in the driving seat after surviving disqualification threat

SERGIO GARCIA came dangerously close to disqualification in the tournament that he has dominated from the start here at Valderrama.

After coming home in 31 shots for a 69 to get to six under and take a one stroke lead into the weekend, the brilliant 24-year-old Spaniard was required to explain exactly what had happened at the short 3rd hole where he had taken a double bogey five.

He would have been thrown out of the tournament if he couldn’t satisfy chief referee John Paramor that he had not broken the rules when dealing with a lost ball.