Rain hits Sergio as Scot Marc sweats on card
THUNDERSTORMS last night kept Sergio Garcia waiting for a hat-trick of crowns – and Marc Warren for word on his European Tour card.
Play at the Andalucia Valderrama Masters was held up for a fourth day running, leaving Garcia three clear of Lee Westwood on 10 under with 11 holes left.
With the threat of lightning keeping players in the clubhouse from around 2pm onwards yesterday, the Spaniard will return this morning looking to repeat his 2011 and 2017 triumphs.
Playing partner Warren is facing a nervy final stretch in Spain after a double-bogey six at his last hole of the day left him sweating over how next season will shape up.
The Scot teed off four days ago 144th on the Race to BY DALE RANKIN Dubai rankings with only the top 116 at the end of the event guaranteed their Tour card next term.
Three birdies and a bogey in his first six holes of the day ensured a promising start that left him projected to sit inside the cut line.
But a wayward drive at the par-fourth seventh saw him slip outside those safe and down to tied sixth for the tournament on four under.
Fellow Scot Richie Ramsay is also facing a season-defining stretch, with projections showing the 35-year-old just two places off keeping his card.
Two under through 12 holes, Ramsay is tied 20th at the final European Tour event to save his card.
The tournament had already been reduced from four rounds to three because of weather delays.
Garcia came into the third round with a four-shot cushion at 10 under thanks to a 64 on Saturday and briefly extended that to five after birdieing the fourth hole with a 20-foot putt.
But he missed a closerange par putt at the next to drop back to 10 under while four birdies in eight holes from Westwood showed the Spaniard he would not have things all his own way.
The Englishman rolled in his 10-foot birdie putt at the eighth to trim the former Masters champion’s lead to three shots before the hooter sounded.
Irishman Shane Lowry and Gonzalo FernandezCastano of Spain are tied third – one off Westwood – having played eight holes.