THE OPEN RELATED STORIES The Open Home Page The Open Scores Round 4: Harrington defends Open title Round 4: Ian Poulter impresses with second place Round 4: Greg Norman proud of achievement Round 4: Henrik Stenson happy with best finish Round 3: Norman takes a two shot lead Round 2: KJ Choi edges a shot clear at halfway Round 1: Late starters share first round lead Course Guide: Royal Birkdale 2008 European Tour Schedule Open Champions 1860-2007 Tee Times and Pairings Prize Fund/Purse Open Championship scoring and other records Open Championship quotes - Wise and witty words about golf's oldest Championship Wind the biggest threat at Royal Birkdale Injuries aboud around the 137th Open Without Tiger many look to score Major success Unhappy John Daly back at The Open Kenny Perry defends absence Justin Rose returns to scene of 1998 drama Padraig Harrington still a doubt Sergio Garcia favourite for The Open Tiger Woods the hot topic of conversation Lee Westwood praises Royal Birkdale Graeme McDowell looking to continue good form Players puzzled by Kenny Perry's absence Wrist worry for Padraig Harrington Phil Mickelson dodges the Tiger factor Green Royal Birkdale greets players Open not devalued by Tiger absence says O'Meara Furyk confident of better Royal Birkdale fortunes Phil Mickelson confident of adding to Major tally Luke Donald out of Open with wrist injury Justin Rose looking forward not back 137th Open Championship Summary COMPETITIONS, GIFTS AND OFFERS Fantastic Cleveland wedge trade-in offer! Teeofftimes Fore-Tee Days of Giveaways! WIN 2 nights/3 rds at Botley Park Tom Watson's DVD - only £19.99! Save money on golf in France!

Sergio Garcia disappointed with a 74

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,” the 28-year-old Spaniard told reporters 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 Sunday’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.”