Garcia to play with Tiger

For the first time since the 2002 United States Open Sergio Garcia was paired with Tiger Woods in the final group on the final day today.

And whereas Woods led by four at Bethpage, it was the 26-year-old Spaniard who held the advantage going into the closing 18 holes of the Buick Invitational at Torrey Pines in California.

A last-green birdie for a third-round 68 made Garcia joint leader with Australian Rod Pampling, with defending champion and three-time winner Woods one behind following a best-of-the-day 67.

With another Aussie, Nathan Green, alongside Woods and Phil Mickelson, Brandt Jobe and Jesper Parnevik just two back – Parnevik after holing a 28-yard bunker shot for an eagle three on the 18th – anything could happen yet.

But Garcia was hoping that the force might be with him.

“I feel good,” he said. “I feel the things I’ve been working on are starting to come around. I feel so much more comfortable over my putts – I stand over them thinking I’m going to make them, so that’s a big difference.

“It’s time for it to happen. It’s a new feeling for me, but it’s a wonderful one.”

Asked about going head to head with Woods, he added: “I’ve always enjoyed competition and playing against the best. That’s why I came here to the US to play on this tour.

“It’s going to be a fun day and by no means is it going to be easy. I played the first couple of days with him and enjoyed it quite a bit, so I’m looking forward to seeing what we can do.

“It’s pretty simple when you hole a couple putts. It takes a lot of pressure off your game.

“You don’t worry about missing a fairway here or there or missing a green here or there because you know you have a good chance of getting up and down or even just hitting a shot that you know you can make.

“That’s one thing that Tiger is good at. Even when his game is not spot on, you know that he can get in the hole and that he can get around.”

Garcia came back from a double bogey at the second to play the remaining holes in six under, while Woods covered the last 10 in five under and was joint leader until Garcia and Pampling both finished with birdies.

“Today was good,” commented the world number one, playing his first event since the second week in December.

“At least I put myself into position. There are not too many golf courses where you hear a golfer say ‘it fits my eye.’ Well, this is one of those for me.”

As for others, Woods did not have to think too long.

“I feel pretty good at Augusta too – and St Andrews is not too bad either.”

He has, of course, won four Masters and two Opens, six of his 10 majors, at those places.

Mickelson, another three-time champion, led on his own after going out in 32 and picking up a further birdie at the short 11th. Then came three bogeys, however.

Luke Donald, runner-up the past two seasons, lies 42nd on two under and Brian Davis is 61st at level par.