Sergio Garcia has battled through swing changes for the first half of this year, but believes he is now on track to reap the dividends.

The 23-year-old Spaniard decided to revamp his swing in a bid to challenge Tiger Woods for global supremacy and finally produced his first top-10 finish of the year at the rain-soaked Buick Classic on Sunday.

"I've been working pretty hard and it's been coming along," said Garcia, after a closing 69 lifted him into a tie for fourth at 10 under par at Westchester Country Club alongside Fred Funk, Jay Haas and Skip Kendall.

"You've just got to be patient. Things don't come overnight and you've just got to work hard on them, and when you do those things and believe in yourself..."

Garcia decided to make swing changes despite being the only player to finish in the top 10 at all four of last year's majors.

The precocious Spaniard felt he was not consistent enough at the game's highest level, and wanted to build a swing that would guarantee greater consistency and reward.

"When I was not perfectly on the ball, I felt there was too much uncontrolled movement on my swing," he said. "Now I'm older and stronger, it is harder to control and the consistency was not there.

"I'm trying to go a little more in line up to the top, trying to make the swing a little longer so I'll be able to control it a little better.

"Now I'm actually hitting a little longer. I'll still have the lag, and I'm going to have it because it's a good thing for me. It's just a little better."

Before his performance at the Buick Classic, Garcia had struggled for most of the year.

He missed six cuts in the United States with a best finish of joint-25th at the season-opening Mercedes Championships in Hawaii, but felt he was on the brink of genuine improvement at the U.S. Open two week's ago.

"I played well (at Olympia Fields) but, unfortunately, I had one bad round and a bad nine holes on Sunday," said Garcia, who carded 69, 74, 71 and 71 on his way to a share of 35th at the U.S. Open.

"But even though I finished 35th last week, I was confident. I was confident with the way I played and I was happy with the way I hit the ball.

"It's all starting to come along. I just need to keep going."

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