Garcia maintains two-shot lead

The wind blew strongly at the Wachovia Championship, but not hard enough to knock Sergio Garcia out of the second-round lead.

The Spaniard, who led after firing a 66 in the first round, could not match that score, but under the circumstances he had little to complain about after a one-under-par 71 at Quail Hollow.

Garcia’s steady play left him with a seven-under 137 halfway total, good for a two-shot cushion over Vijay Singh, DJ Trahan and defending champion Joey Sindelar.

The world’s second ranked player, Singh shot 69. Trahan carded a 67 and Sindelar a 71. England’s Greg Owen stormed up the leaderboard with a sparkling six-birdie 67.

Owen was in a tie for 70th place after his opening 74 but now shares eighth place on three-under-par 141.

Tiger Woods is five shots behind after failing to capitalise on his sizzling start and carding an even-par 72. Phil Mickelson is seven shots off the pace after a 73.

“It felt good making only two bogeys, as tough as it was playing,” Garcia said.

“Thank the Pope it rained last night, because if the greens had stayed as firm as the first round, with this kind of wind, it would have been almost impossible to hit some of those greens,” Garcia said.

“You have to be hitting the ball so well to hit some of these fairways. I missed a couple of good chances at birdies but my putter behaved a little better and I made some key par putts to keep my round going.

“I didn’t hit the ball nearly as well as the first round,” Garcia said. “I was not as committed with most of my shots at the beginning of the round (because of the wind). Sometimes it makes you look a little stupid.”

Garcia, 25, won three times worldwide last year – twice on the PGA Tour and once in Europe – but has not triumphed this year. The reason for his winless start to the 2005 season will surprise those who remember the brilliant and imaginative touch he had around the greens when he turned pro as a precocious 19-year-old in 1999.

“I have been struggling with my short game for quite a while,” he said.

“It seems I am finally starting to see some light at the end of the tunnel. My short game is becoming much, much better, so I feel I am on the right track. I would love to win this week but if I don’t, it’s not going to be a problem.”

If Garcia’s round was creditable, Singh’s was outstanding. He hit 14 greens in regulation and had just a pair of bogeys.

Woods, meanwhile, birdied three of the first four holes before playing the rest of the round in three over.

“It was a frustrating finish. I got off to a great start but unfortunately I did not keep it going. I had an opportunity to make some more birdies, but I slipped back.”

England’s Justin Rose had a 74 for one-over 145, one ahead of Ireland’s Padraig Harrington, who shot 75.

Most of the big names survived for the weekend, although a few bowed out, including Mike Weir, Davis Love, David Toms and English pair Ian Poulter and Brian Davis.