Sergio Garcia pulls six shots clear

Spain's Sergio Garcia enjoyed a sizzling finish to surge six shots clear of the field at the $5.6 million Wachovia Championship after carding a third round five-under 67 in Charlotte, North Carolina on Saturday.

Garcia, who has held the lead at the Quail Hollow Club since the opening round, made the best possible start to the day with a birdie at the par-four first.

Although he stumbled with a double-bogey at the fourth to slip briefly from top spot, Garcia rallied with birdies on five and seven to reach the turn at one under for the round.

It was on the back nine, however, that the 25-year-old seized control with birdies on five of his first six holes to leave him at 12-under 204.

"I felt like I played pretty solid all day," Garcia said.

"I started very well with birdie on one, and that got me going a little bit.

"Unfortunately I hit a bad shot on four. I had a good chance of making par and I hit it a bit too hard with my chip and had a difficult shot.

"I should have made bogey at the worst but ended up making double.

"But I came back nicely.

"It would be great (to win), but it's not finished. I've still got to do it tomorrow.

"I've got to stay focused and keep doing the things that I've been doing. It's been really good so I've got to keep on the same track. But it'll be nice. Any victory is nice."

The late charge gave Garcia a healthy cushion over Americans D.J. Trahan and Jim Furyk and world number two Vijay Singh heading into Sunday's final round.

Trahan, who has produced just one top-10 PGA Tour finish with a share of ninth place in New Orleans last week, briefly joined Garcia in the lead after birdies at one, five and seven.

But the Tour rookie could not sustain his form over the closing stretch with bogeys at the 11th, 14th and 17th to sign for a one-under 71.

Fijian Singh was also unable to keep pace with Garcia, mixing three birdies with a pair of bogeys to also finish with a one-under 71 and join Trahan and Furyk (69) at six-under 210.

South Africa's Nick Price is one shot further adrift after carding a three-under 69.

World number one Tiger Woods, in action for the first time since winning the U.S. Masters last month, continued to shake off the rust as he carded a disappointing one-over 73 to sit on one-under 215 leaving him 11 shots off the lead.

"I had my chance on the front nine to get it going," Woods said. "I hit quality shots and put myself in position and didn't make putts, and then I made a couple mistakes.

"I feel very good. I didn't quite get it done today.

" I had my chances and unfortunately I didn't capitalize on all my chances.

"When you're coming from behind like I was, I needed to capitalise on those things and get the momentum back on my side and I just didn't do it today."

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