Pacesetting Garcia reaps reward for hard work on short game

By Mark Lamport-Stokes

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Florida (Reuters) - Sergio Garcia gave a strong indication that erratic putting, so often his Achilles' heel, could be a problem of the past after taking charge at the Players Championship on Thursday.

The Spaniard, yet to fulfill early predictions that he would emerge as a rival for world number one Tiger Woods, needed only 29 putts to forge two shots clear in the opening round.

"I really like the way I'm stroking it and I'm pretty happy with everything that's going on," Garcia, 28, told reporters after setting the pace with a six-under-par 66 on a breezy day at the Tournament Players Club at Sawgrass.

"There are days that are better than others but the good thing is that there are days when it's very good so that's always something to look forward to."

Long regarded by his peers as one of the game's best players from tee to green, Garcia has all too often paid a price with poor putting.

After experimenting with short and long putters, as well as conventional and cross-handed grips, he began working with short game guru Stan Utley at the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship in February.

Following three months of hard work, plus a return to a putter he last used in 2000, he has steadily improved.

"When I first talked to Stan, our main idea was to get back to the way I used to putt, like 10, 12 years ago when I was a good putter," Garcia said.

FEELING PUTTS

"So we got back a little bit into that kind of feeling, that kind of address, and the way that the stroke should be.

"It's pretty much just making sure that we cover the ball as we go through and it's kind of trying to hit little draws with the putt. That way, your roll is so much purer," added the Castellon native, who is still seeking his first major title.

Garcia first burst on to the world scene by finishing runner-up to Woods in the 1999 U.S. PGA championship, closing with a 71 that featured a stunning second shot at the 16th hole.

Despite going on to win six titles apiece on the PGA Tour and his home European Tour, he has failed to provide a consistent challenge at the highest level of the game.

Asked whether putting had been his major letdown, he replied: "That's not true. It's a lot of things involved.

"Of course, if you don't putt well, it doesn't help. If you hit a couple of bad shots here and there at the wrong time, that costs you, too. It's just a mix of things.