Sergio looking to end year on strong note
Sergio Garcia’s year is missing only one element, a victory, and he put himself in prime position to change that in his final tournament on the calendar.
Garcia, with girlfriend Katharina Boehm as his caddie, posted a second consecutive 7-under-par 65 and will take a four-stroke lead over Henrik Stenson of Sweden and Anirban Lahiri of India into the final round of the Thailand Golf Championship at Amata Spring Country Club in Bangkok.
“It was great obviously to be able to go out there and shoot 65 again,” said the 33-year-old Spaniard, who last victory came a year ago this month in the Iskandar Johor Open in Malaysia. “I played nicely and felt pretty comfortable. I was able to hit some really nice shots and then was able to roll two or three really good putts in and it was nice to be able to finish birdie, birdie on this difficult finishing stretch.
“Not only Henrik… there are probably five or six guys who can shoot a really good number. It’s going to be exciting tomorrow. I want to try to be as aggressive as possible. I want to still try to make as many birdies as I can and if I manage to do that, then I’m going to put it quite difficult to the rest. I think if I start getting a little defensive, then I can give them a good opportunity of catching me.”
Stenson, coming off a historic season in which he became the first player to capture the FedEx Cup on the PGA Tour and the Race to Dubai on the European Tour, also shot 65, while Lahiri, who has won nine times in Asia, had a 67.
Justin Rose, who has not won since the U.S. Open at Merion in June and was tied for the lead with Garcia after 36 holes, managed only a 70 in round three and was alone in fourth place, five shots back.
Rickie Fowler was the top American, in a tie for ninth after a 71.
