Power Serg

> Rose, Garcia share Masters lead entering last round

SERGIO GARCIA, winless in 73 prior majors, shook off a Masters legacy of third-round setbacks yesterday to match Rio Olympic champion Justin Rose for the lead entering the final round. Garcia has gone a combined 38-over par to average 75 in 13 prior Masters third rounds. But this time he fired a two-under par 70 to match the best of those rounds from 2002 to join England’s Rose in Sunday’s final pairing with a great chance at a long-sought dream. “Got to go out there and believe in myself again as much as I’ve been doing, be patient and don’t freak out even if I do something wrong,” Garcia said. Rose, the 2013 US Open winner, birdied five of the last seven holes to shoot 67 in ideal conditions to join the 37-year-old Spaniard, this week’s only player with three sub-par rounds, on six-under 210 through 54 holes at Augusta National. “I liked my confidence on the greens. They were rolling perfectly,” Rose said. “I just stayed with it and everything began to click into gear on the back nine. “You’ve got to be aggressive at times, but this is a course where you’ve got to pick your moments. That game plan worked well for me today and I’m sure it will again tomorrow.”

Jordan Spieth, the 2015 Masters champion whose back-nine meltdown last year cost him a repeat crown, fired a 68 to share fourth on 212 with fellow Americans Ryan Moore and Charley Hoffman, a co-leader until finding the water at the par-3 16th and making double bogey.

Australia’s Adam Scott, the 2013 Masters winner, was seventh on 213 with 2011 Masters champion Charl Schwartzel of South Africa another stroke adrift with England’s Lee Westwood and Belgium’s Thomas Pieters on 215.

World No. 2 Rory McIlroy, a four-time major champion, shot 71 to stand on 216 and was not confident of a victory that would complete a career grand slam.

“I’ve shot low ones here before. My lowest round here, I’m not sure it’s going to be low enough.”

Garcia birdied the fifth and sandwiched a birdie at the par-5 eighth between bogeys but added birdies at the par-5 13th and 15th and parred in, sinking a testy six footer at the last.

“Just fighting hard,” Garcia said. “I kept fighting with all I had. It’s about staying patient. I hit some good shots on the back nine coming in. It was good to see.”

At 13, Garcia gave a look of despair watching his ball in the air. It appeared to plunk into Rae’s Creek but clung to the far bank, allowing him to chip it inches from the pin for a tap-in birdie. “Got a great break on 13,” he said. “That was good to see.” – AFP