Garcia stays on top at Carnoustie

Golf Betting Lines

07/21/2007 - Carnoustie, Scotland (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Sergio Garcia's quest for his first major championship is very much on track.

He shot a three-under 68 on Saturday to remain on top of the leaderboard after three rounds of the British Open Championship at Carnoustie. He completed 54 holes at nine-under-par 204 and is three clear.

Steve Stricker posted a new British Open Championship record at Carnoustie on Saturday with an astonishing seven-under-par 64. He is alone in second place at six-under-par 207.

"It was just one of those rounds where my putter felt really well," said Stricker. "I've been spending a lot of time working on my putting. I gave myself a lot of opportunities today, and I ended up making quite a few putts."

Last year's runner-up Chris DiMarco (66), Paul McGinley (68), Stewart Cink (68), Padraig Harrington (68), Paul Broadhurst (68), K.J. Choi (72) and 2002 winner Ernie Els (68) share third place at three-under-par 210.

Tiger Woods' bid to become the first player to win three consecutive claret jugs since Peter Thomson in 1954-56 is still alive, albeit barely. He shot a third-round, two-under 69 and is tied for 15th at minus-one.

"I hung in there today and at least I've given myself a chance for tomorrow," said Woods, who mixed four birdies and two bogeys in his round Saturday. "I remember Paul Lawrie came from 10 shots back to win in 1999, so it can certainly be done around here."

Maybe not by the world No. 1.

Woods has never come from behind to win any of his 12 major championships. So far in 2007, Woods has been in the final group on Sunday at both the Masters and U.S. Open, and even held a piece of the lead on Sunday in both, but did not make it to the winner's circle. Woods tied for second in both.

Woods was paired with Garcia in the final round last year at Royal Liverpool and Woods dusted the Spaniard by six on Sunday. Even if Woods beats Garcia by that amount on Sunday this year, it will not be enough.

Garcia will be paired with Stricker on Sunday. Garcia has never held a 54-hole lead in a major championship, but has tied for fifth the last two years at the British Open Championship.

"It was a good experience for me, to be in that situation," said Garcia, referring to his final-round pairing with Woods last year. "I'm looking forward to tomorrow. Hopefully I keep playing the same way."

If Garcia can, in fact, play the same way, he will be a major champion.

On Saturday, Garcia carried a two-shot lead into the round and quickly extended it with a 12-foot birdie putt at the first. He rolled in a clutch six-foot par save at the third and recovered from a wayward drive to par four.

Last week, Garcia unveiled a belly putter and it has worked wonders. He converted two more six-foot par saves at five and six, then ran home a 10-foot birdie putt at the eighth.

The Spaniard hit an amazing approach to tap-in range for a birdie at 11. That got him to nine-under par, but he had work to do to stay at that number considering Carnoustie's demanding final holes.

His flat stick began to let him down a bit on the second nine. He had a great look at birdie from 10 feet at the 13th, but missed. Garcia's six-foot birdie try at the par-five 14th stayed above ground, although he made a nice par save at No. 15.

Garcia hit a horrible approach left of the green at No. 17. It was so bad, it hit a male spectator in the head. Garcia went over to check on him and shook his hand, but had to regroup for a delicate pitch.

"It is tough," admitted Garcia. "It's not a good feeling. I shook his hand and he seemed to be fine. I didn't see any blood and that always helps."

Garcia chipped to four feet and poured in another huge par save.

At the last, Garcia ripped a drive down the fairway and immediately knew his second was going to be close. He yelled at his ball to be right and it was, stopping 10 feet from the stick.

Unfortunately for Garcia, his putt did not fall, but he is in his best position to capture that elusive first major.

"It would have been nice to make birdie there," acknowledged Garcia. "I still have a very hard day tomorrow. I have to keep playing the same way I'm playing and hopefully I will be able to win this championship."

As for Stricker, he flew out of the gate with three consecutive birdies, including a 25-footer at two and 35-footer at No. 3. He rolled in a 15-footer at five and a short one at seven to get to four-under par for the championship.

The 40-year-old American parred the next five around the turn then drained a 12-foot birdie putt at the 13th. Stricker made it two in a row with a two-putt birdie at 14.

Stricker looked to be in trouble at 15, but he holed a 30-foot par save. He missed the green at 16 and 17, but got up and down for par. At the last, Stricker hit a bunker with his second and blasted out to six feet. He holed that to stay three back.

This has been quite an odyssey for Stricker. Last year, he qualified for the U.S. Open and tied for sixth at Winged Foot. He was almost selected by Tom Lehman for an American Ryder Cup spot and won the Comeback Player of the Year award on the PGA Tour.

This year, Stricker has five top 10s, including a second to Choi at the AT&T National. He ranks 10th on the PGA Tour money list and is almost guaranteed a spot on the Presidents Cup team.

How did this all happen in a year?

"It was hard, but I made the most of it," said Stricker. "I enjoyed getting into the tournaments that I did get into. I put more of an emphasis on taking advantage of those tournaments when I did get into them."

Vijay Singh (68), Andres Romero (70), Jim Furyk (71), Mike Weir (72) and Miguel Angel Jimenez (72) are knotted in 10th place at two-under-par 211.