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Southport: After battling hard in gale-force winds, Sergio Garcia was frustrated his efforts did not bear more fruit in Saturday's third round at the British Open.
Garcia, tournament favourite in the absence of injured world number one Tiger Woods, ground out a four-over-par 74 for a nine-over total of 219, seven off the lead.
"I'm really disappointed," said the 28-year-old Spaniard after toiling in gusts up to 72-kph (45-mph).
"I fought really hard but didn't get anything out of it.
"It was very tough with balls moving on the greens. So many shots, so many putts were hit with the ball wobbling. It was close to calling it off for a while."
Although organisers did not suspend play because of the difficult conditions, Garcia applauded their overnight decision to move the tees forward in a bid to limit the damage.
"It was really (helpful)," the world number seven said. "If we played from the back I don't think we would have reached any of them (greens in regulation). It was an intelligent move.
"Any day when you're hitting a five-iron 130 yards when you usually hit it 200 yards you know it's tough."
Yet to win his first major, Garcia came desperately close in last year's British Open at Carnoustie where he lost to Ireland's Padraig Harrington in a four-hole playoff.
Asked to rate his chances of pulling off a victory in yesterday's final round at Royal Birkdale, the Spaniard replied: "We'll see.
"I felt like I needed no more than two over to have a chance. I could have done that but things didn't happen."
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