Castellon, Valencia, Spain – Nearly three years without a win seems like almost forever when you're Sergio Garcia.
A former No. 2 in the world rankings, Garcia claimed his 18th and last professional victory in the first tournament of 2009, but has come up empty since.
The Spaniard went a long way toward ending the drought Saturday, distancing himself from the Castello Masters field with a seven-under 64 to quadruple his lead to eight after 54 holes.
Garcia is playing at his home course this week, and that comfort level has returned his confidence and has the five-time Ryder Cup participant playing at a level to which he had once grown accustomed. He began slowly on Saturday, but ended at 19-under 194 and is the heavy favorite entering Sunday's final round.
The winless stretch nearly ended earlier this year at the BMW International Open, but Garcia missed a four-foot putt on the fifth playoff hole to lose out to Pablo Larrazabal. Garcia had an excellent chance to win in regulation, but four bogeys in a five-hole stretch in the final round cost him dearly.
This time around, Garcia is trying to make sure a playoff isn't necessary, recovering from an early bogey to post an eagle and six birdies over the final 12 holes Saturday at Club de Campo del Mediterraneo.
Thongchai Jaidee has the distinction of distant second at the moment after his five-under 66 on Saturday put him at 11-under 202 overall. He'll be in the final grouping come Sunday, but will be hard-pressed to catch Garcia.
Ross McGowan (69) finished with two birdies to move into third at 10-under, while Richie Ramsay (68), Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano (69) and Anthony Wall (69) share fourth at minus-nine.
MORE TO FOLLOW.
