Garcia hopes the wind really kicks up at St. Andrews

Sergio Garcia remains on the cusp of contention at St. Andrews, at 5-under and believing he easily could be two or three shots better in the benign conditions. Now, though, wants the breeze to howl all weekend.

ST. ANDREWS, Scotland (PA) -- When a teenaged Sergio Garcia skipped up and down the fairways of Medinah to come in second to Tiger Woods in the 1999 PGA Championship, sports fans were convinced a new golf rivalry was born.

It never quite happened. But a first major victory remains a possibility this weekend at the Open Championship for the Spaniard, who tends to save his best form for the Ryder Cup. Garcia returned a 3-under 69 Friday to go with his first-round and give him a 5-under total that is six shots behind Woods.

"I'm in a fairly good position but I'm not very pleased with the first two days," admitted Garcia. "I had a great chance for eagle on 12 and three-putted 14. I never really seemed to get it going.

"The way I played, I feel I should be 7- or 8-under par easily," he added. "I know if I can get it going with the putter I can really shoot a low round."

It looked as if he was going to do just that Friday morning when as early as the 397-yard par-4 third hole, he rolled in an eight-foot birdie putt with confidence and punched the air with his fist as if to say: 'Here we go.'

Except that at the next hole, it was 'There it went' as a poor second shot left him with an awkward chip and his par putt slipped by.

The thing about the new Garcia, of the past three months, is that such setbacks no longer frustrate him as once they did. The reason, which he recounted eloquently at the U.S. Open while finishing third, is down to a close pal who is battling lung cancer.

"To see those things really wakes you up," said Garcia. "You don't want to make a bogey, but it makes you realize it's not really that bad. It has been a bit easier this year. I'm not trying to let it get to me when I make a three-putt."

Another factor in Garcia's round was his playing partner, Ireland's Paul McGinley, a Ryder Cup teammate who finished on 1-over.

"I always play better with someone I like and can get on with well on the course," said Garcia. "There were some tough pin positions today, but they were tough, not stupid."

Now all the 25-year-old wants is for the weather to howl a good deal more than it has in what have been a benign opening two days.

"It was a shame the wind didn't blow harder," said Garcia. "It would be nice to see the teeth of St. Andrews."

Copyright 2005 Associated Press. All rights reserved.

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