Garcia still trying to build on Carnoustie experience

2008-04-26

Share this article:  Digg |  StumbleUpon |  del.icio.us |  Reddit

By Andrew BothPA SportsTicker Golf Writer

IRVING, Texas (Ticker) - Sergio Garcia says he took a lot morepositives than negatives out of his heartbreaking loss at lastyear's British Open.

Garcia charged into contention on Saturday in the third round ofthe Byron Nelson Championship and then tried to spin lastseason's collapse at Carnoustie as a positive.

"I've always said it was a very positive experience," Garciasaid.

It was difficult not to be a little skeptical about his claim,because it was blatantly obvious to the world that the Spaniardwas devastated by his playoff loss to Padraig Harrington lastJuly.

"It was the kind of week that opened my eyes, that showed mewhat I can do and what I can handle," Garcia said."Unfortunately, it didn't end the way I wanted or the way Idreamed it, not because I didn't play well enough, but becauseit just wasn't meant to happen.

"That's the only thing you can think about it, and you move on.I looked at all the positives and negatives and the basket ofpositive things was a huge basket full of things, and the oneswith the negatives was almost empty."

Words, however, are cheap, and the fact is that Garcia has notfinished better than fourth in any of the 17 tournamentsworldwide he has contested since.

But he has a chance to put his disappointing run behind him hereat the Four Seasons TPC.

Starting the day six shots off the pace, Garcia fired sixbirdies in a 5-under 65, matching the best score of thetournament. He is now four strokes from the lead with one roundleft.

"Even though I missed the cut at the Masters, I hit the ballnicely," he said. "I finished bogey, par, bogey to miss the cutby one but I left thinking 'I'm playing really good'. The onlynegative thing was that I didn't play the weekend."

Garcia, whose putting woes have been widely documented, is usingan old putter that he last had in the bag back in 2000.

"Two weeks before the Masters I started practicing with it," hesaid. "It just gave me a good vibe, so I decided to go with it.It's always good to get some of those old feelings back.Finally, today, they (the putts) started dropping."

And that is one thing that is truly a positive.