A day after snapping his putter in half in frustration, Sergio Garcia fought back into contention for a second Players Championship title at Sawgrass.
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Garcia was so frustrated with his putting during a second round of 72 that he switched back and forth between a conventional grip and the ‘claw’ method he has used successfully for the last few years. And after detailing his frustrations to the media – admitting “I don’t know what to do” – the Ryder Cup star found the nearest bin, broke his putter in half and disposed of it in unceremonial fashion.
Having secured a replacement for the third round, Garcia still missed a number of short putts – most notably from three feet for birdie on the 13th – but also chipped in for an eagle on the second and carded five birdies in a superb round of 67.
Garcia crucially saved par from 12 feet on the 18th after a poor approach and said: “Unfortunately, I am still not 100 per cent with my putting. I missed three or four shorties but at least it was nice to make that last one on 18.
“That was big. I hit a great shot and a bad second, hit a very good chip and to be able to make that putt hopefully gives me a chance to do something tomorrow.”
Garcia said he would stick with the “claw” grip for the final round, adding: “Even when it does not feel great, it still feels less bad than the other one. Hopefully, I get some confidence from the nice putts I made today and try to forget the bad ones.”
Garcia’s round took the 2008 champion to eight-under par and into a share of the clubhouse lead with American Justin Thomas at the time of going to the press. Thomas carded 10 birdies and three bogeys in a 65 which equalled the lowest round of the week.
World No1 Rory McIlroy missed a nine-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole, but he made three birdies on the back nine to finish on two-under par 70 for the day, and just two shots behind Garcia and Thomas on six-under par. Former world No1 Tiger Woods gained an unwanted record as he struggled to a third round of 75.
That included sevens on second and ninth holes. Thomas, a close friend of Masters champion Jordan Spieth, admitted Spieth’s victory in April was a major source of inspiration.
“It’s been very motivating,” the 22-year-old said. “He is a good buddy of mine and has done some pretty amazing things this year. “Although it’s been fun to watch, it’s been a little bit indifferent because I want to be up there battling it out with him in majors. I have some work to do but I feel like I am going in the right direction.”
American Ben Martin and Kevin Na were tied for the lead at 10-under par on the golf course. Martin was five-under through 14 holes, while Na was two-under par after 11.
