Sun shines on Garcia as season just gets better

SERGIO Garcia continued his remarkable run of form as he opened up a two-shot lead heading into the final round of the Nedbank Golf Challenge in South Africa.

The Spaniard’s play in the early part of 2018 was so poor some saw him as a risky selection for a Ryder Cup wild card but he has not looked back since being selected by Europe captain Thomas Bjorn.

He finished in the top 10 at the Portugal Masters, won three points in the victory at Le Golf National to become the competition’s all-time highest points scorer and then successfully defended his title at the Andalucia Valderrama Masters.

The 2013 Masters champion led after days one and two in Sun City and a third-round 71 moved him to 10 under, two shots clear of fellow major winner Louis Oosthuizen.

Close House professional Lee Westwood was then at seven under alongside Belgian Thomas Detry and Finn Mikko Korhonen, with another Englishman in Ross Fisher a further shot back.

“It’s going to be tough, there’s no doubt about that,” Garcia told europeantour. com. “But it’s great to come with some good momentum, playing nicely and in the lead. It should be a fun day.

“I think if I can manage to shoot somewhere in the 60s, maybe 70 might be enough. I’m going to see if I can shoot below 70 and see if that’s good enough.”

Garcia birdied the par-five second and hit a stunning approach into the third for back-to-back birdies and a three-shot lead.

He got in tree trouble on the 13th but birdied the 17th after another excellent approach before sending his second into the stands for a closing bogey. Lee Westwood