VALDERRAMA, October 29, 2011 (AFP) - Fresh from his victory at home in last week's Castello Masters, Sergio Garcia surged into a two-shot lead at the Andalucia Masters with a four-under-par 67 in Saturday's third round.
The Spaniard, who won the Castello by 11 strokes last Sunday, put himself in an ideal position to win here at an event where he has finished runner-up three times.
Garcia, who ended a three-year title drought last weekend, needs to win again on Sunday to qualify for next week's World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions in Shanghai.
With a six-under-par total of 207, he is two shots clear of compatriot Miguel Angel Jimenez (68), who had two eagles, and Swede Christian Nilsson, who equalled the best score of the week with a 65.
Scotland's Richie Ramsey, the overnight leader, is three back after closing with two bogeys for a 73 after a day that saw defending title-holder Graeme McDowell toil with an 81.
Garcia's round included a bogey six at the 17th, when he had to take off his shoes and socks and roll up his trousers to play his second, which landed in rocks beside a lake.
He reflected: "It obviously was risky, but I liked my chances of getting up and down better from there than the drop zone.
"After I three-putted the fifth I came straight back with a birdie, so to have that 'bouncebackability' is always nice.
"I don't want to get ahead of myself. Hopefully I can come out and have the same feelings and mentality and my best will be good enough."
Leading third round scores of the EPGA Andalucia Masters on Saturday (GBR & IRL unless stated, par 71):
207 - Sergio Garcia (ESP) 70 70 67
209 - Christian Nilsson (SWE) 73 71 65, Miguel Angel Jimenez (ESP) 71 70 68
210 - Richie Ramsay 65 72 73
213 - Steve Webster 75 72 66
214 - Stephen Gallacher 68 76 70, Shane Lowry 72 71 71, Alejandro Canizares (ESP) 71 72 71
215 - Francesco Molinari (ITA) 71 73 71, Martin Wiegele (AUT) 71 76 68, Ross Fisher 67 79 69, David Howell 72 75 68, Gonzalo Fdez-Castano (ESP) 73 72 70, Gregory Havret (FRA) 68 71 76
216 - Peter Hanson (SWE) 72 71 73, Romain Wattel (FRA) 73 70 73, Oliver Wilson 73 71 72, Raphael Jacquelin (FRA) 73 72 71
217 - Justin Rose 72 71 74, Thomas Bjorn (DEN) 73 70 74, Danny Willett 75 74 68, Graeme Storm 73 75 69
Selected
220 - Andrew Dodt (AUS) 76 72 72, Pablo Larrazabal (ESP) 74 73 73
221 - Scott Strange (AUS) 70 78 73
222 - Brett Rumford (AUS) 73 74 75,
225 - Jose-Maria Olazabal (Spa) 75 74 76
227 - Graeme McDowell 73 73 81