Garcia keeps lead at Bethpage

Fast greens cause trouble at Bethpage

Sergio Garcia shot a 2-under 69 on Saturday in the third round of the The Barclays to hold a two-stroke lead.

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FARMINGDALE, N. Y. — The greens were so fast that Sergio Garcia didn’t know when the ball was going to stop. He was happy to see the day end with a 2- under 69, giving him a two-shot lead over Nick Watney going into the final round of The Barclays.

Garcia fell out of the lead with a three-putt bogey on the third hole, but he didn’t have another one the rest of the round on a Bethpage Black course that lived up to is tough reputation Saturday because of greens that reminded players of another course on Long Island.

Shinnecock Hills came up more than once. That’s when the USGA lost control of the greens in the final round of the U. S. Open, and even had to water one green in the middle of the round. Bethpage wasn’t that bad, but it was close.

Watney, who made five putts over 15 feet, three-putted the final hole when his putt went racing 10 feet by the cup.

He had to settle for a 71, giving him another round in the final group with Garcia.

“Hopefully, the pins will be in spots where there’s some grass on the greens and the ball will stop rolling,” Watney said.

Tiger Woods, who started the third round three shots out of the lead, three-putted for bogey three times on the front nine alone. He had another three-putt on the 14th hole, this one from 15 feet, and had a 72 that put him six shots behind.

“I don’t remember blowing putts by 8 to 10 feet,” Woods said. “So that was a bit of a shocker.”

Garcia went four years without winning on the PGA Tour and now has a chance to make it two in a row.

He was at 10-under 203, and only four players were within four shots of the lead.

Kevin Stadler played early, when the greens still had some moisture, and had a remarkable round of 65 without any bogeys.

He moved up from a tie for 42nd to alone in third place, three shots behind.

Brandt Snedeker started strong and closed with nine pars, which was equally impressive, for a 68 that put him four back.

Phil Mickelson might still be in the game. Twice a runner- up at Bethpage Black — both times in the U.S. Open — Mickelson played early Saturday and had a 67. That eventually put him in the large group at 4-under 209 that included Woods, Louis Oosthuizen, Lee Westwood and Charl Schwartzel, an impressive collection of players who have either won a major or been No. 1 in the world.

Garcia can set the tone for the final round.

“If Sergio goes out and shoot 4 or 5 under, you’ve just got to tip your hat,” Watney said.

His third round was worthy of praise. Of the final 18 players who teed off, Garcia was the only one to break 70.

“If you play well, you can shoot a decent score, but as the day goes on, the course just gets harder and harder,” Garcia said. “No doubt playing in the morning makes it a little bit easier. Even though the greens were still firm, they were probably not as firm and probably not quite as fast. It’s just we know what Bethpage Black is all about. We know it’s a tough golf course, and you’ve just got to realize that’s the way it’s going to be.”