Patience the key for Garcia

Sergio Garcia believes patience remains the key as he tries to win his first Major title this weekend.  

Denied only by Tiger Woods at the 1999 US PGA Championship in Chicago, Garcia has given himself another chance of glory at the US Open in Tulsa.

And this time he knows it will take a near-miracle for Woods to be the man to stop him.

At two-under-par the only players ahead of 21-year-old Garcia going into the third round are surprise leaders Retief Goosen, Mark Brooks and JL Lewis on four-under.

Woods, who came into the week trying to make it a mind-boggling fifth successive Major win, is seven shots further back and relieved to be still in the tournament thanks to two late birdies in the second round.

"You can't be impatient," said the young Spaniard. "I am a different player to two years ago and I think I can handle myself better.

"Even if Tiger was ahead of me I would think this was a great position to be in and I'd have a great chance.

"I would not say I was a boy at Medinah and a man now, but I am that little bit older for sure."

Garcia, just two months older than Woods was when he won the 1997 Masters, added a 68 to his opening 70.

Almost as important as the score to him was that he got finished before nightfall as thirty-three players didn't and they were teeing off again at 7am.

"It's always difficult to come back for one hole or something and then wait until 2.30 or whatever," added Garcia. "I can have a nice sleep now and then come out for what is a very important round.

"Tiger needs a good one - at least four-under - because you're not going to shoot 62 or 63 on the last day with the course drying out.

"I've just got to try to keep doing what I have been. I've putted pretty good, hit a lot of good irons and I managed to sort my driving out in the second round."