Pal's pain puts things in perspective for Sergio

A life-threatening illness to a friend has put golf into perspective for Sergio Garcia. Still waiting for his first major title after finishing joint third in the US Open – his ninth top 10 placing – Garcia spoke afterwards about his changed attitude.

“I have a friend that is only 24 and he’s got lung cancer,” said the 25-year-old Spaniard. “To see those things really wakes you up.

“You don’t want to make a bogey, but it makes you realise it’s really not that bad. You’re still trying your hardest and that’s what I did.”

Garcia was told by caddie Glen Murray that mentally it was the best he had seen him in a major in their time together.

“That’s nice. I guess you learn. It’s the way you handle things, the way you focus, the way you approach the game.

“I’m happy with the way things have been going. You’ve got to take things the right way. If you do you get rewards. If you don’t get so uptight sometimes it’s better.”

A third round 75 was Garcia’s undoing, leaving him too much ground to make up on a course yielding so few birdies.

His closing 70 was only one off the low score of the day and two of the players who shot 69 were winner Michael Campbell and second-placed Tiger Woods.