Garcia: just 21 putts

Now I know what Tiger Woods feels like 98 percent of the time he gets on the greens. It is a great feeling.

Sergio Garcia
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Sergio Garcia reckons he finally knows how Tiger Woods feels on the greens after a sparkling putting display at the London Club.

The Spaniard shot a best-of-the-day 66 to claim second place behind Ross Fisher in the European Open, taking just 21 putts.

The flat stick has long been his Achilles heel but this was a display to give him renewed confidence heading for the Open at Royal Birkdale the week after next.

"It was definitely the best putting round I have ever had," Garcia said. "I don't expect to putt like this every round. I would love to though because it would make the game easy.

"Now I know what Tiger Woods feels like 98 percent of the time he gets on the greens. It is a great feeling."

Garcia was runner-up at Carnoustie to Padraig Harrington last year and feels his game is in good shape heading for the Lancashire coast.

"The good thing is I am starting to see that it is happening more consistently," he said. "To see some of these rounds happening is great. It gives you confidence and shows you all the work you're doing is going in the right direction.

"It was really difficult out there. Any day you are playing a par-four that is 340 or 350 yards long and you're hitting driver, six-iron (to the green) you know it's tough."

The Players champion was also delighted to boost his Ryder Cup claim with a runner-up finish in his first appearance in Europe this season.

"I love that," he added. "That's the best thing to come out of this week. Obviously I came here to try to win, but my second goal was to get as many Ryder Cup points as possible and my round today helped a lot."