Garcia eyes head start in Ryder race

Sergio Garcia remained on course to kick off the Ryder Cup qualifying campaign with a victory with 10 holes to play in Switzerland today.

One ahead overnight after finishing his third round of the Omega European Masters with an eagle two – he sank an 111-yard wedge – Garcia stretched his advantage to four with a sparkling run of birdies.

After three-putting the long first for par and allowing Welshman Garry Houston to catch him with a birdie the 25-year-old Spaniard picked up four shots in five holes from the fifth.

He stood 15 under, with Houston then level in second place with defending champion Luke Donald on 11 under.

Houston, only 433rd in the world and needing a top five finish to secure his place on tour for next season, was hoping for even better than that, of course, and he cut his deficit to three with a birdie at the long ninth.

Garcia then failed to get up and down from sand on the next to be only two ahead of not only Houston, but also Donald, who pitched to two feet there.