Spaniards have 'a chance', insists Garcia

Spain’s Sergio Garcia hopes he or compatriot Jose Maria Olazabal can break the hold Tiger Woods has on the 134th Open at St Andrews and produce something special on the final day.

Garcia finished eight under after a birdie at the last with Olazabal 10 under after doing the same – four and two shots respectively behind Woods, who has led since day one.

As afternoon starters they missed out on the more favourable conditions and the wind got up after lunch and no-one – particularly Woods, who shot a one-under 71 – blazed the kind of trail expected after some low scores in the morning.

And after a three-under-par 69 the 25-year-old felt he needed to shoot his lowest round of the week tomorrow to stand a chance of being the first European to win a major since Paul Lawrie in the 1999 Open at Carnoustie.

“If the wind blows like it did today something probably around 67 or 68 can do it because the course is playing a lot tougher today and you could see everyone struggling,” said the Ryder Cup star.

“If you didn’t hit a perfectly-struck shot the wind was going to take it and it was going to go somewhere I don’t know where.

“It was nice to see the course that way and it really made everyone play their best to shoot two or three under par.

“It’s great to have a Spanish challenge this year. It looks like we’ve got a chance.

“Hopefully we can go out there and play as well as we have all week and it will be nice to see him (Olazabal) and myself going down the stretch and having a chance of winning. I’m looking forward to that.”

Garcia began the day five under but three-putted the first, birdied the fifth before chipping in at the short ninth for eagle to go to the turn at eight under.

He bogeyed 11 and failed to take advantage of the short par-four 12th but birdied the long 14th, only to miss a three-footer for par at 16. He redeemed himself with birdie at 18 to remain in contention – just.

“I’m fairly happy. I felt like I played pretty decently again. I felt like I struck the ball very nicely, I hit a lot of good drives, made some key putts when the wind was blowing and that was a hard thing to do,” added Garcia.

“I felt I gave it my best and I think I have a chance tomorrow so we’ll try to give it a run.”