Garcia inches close to ending title drought in Thailand

Spaniard Sergio Garcia carded a second successive seven-under-par 65 at the Thailand Golf Championship on Saturday and will go into Sunday's final round with a four-shot lead and a golden opportunity to end his title drought this year.

Garcia, who was tied for the lead at the halfway stage with Englishman Justin Rose, took his three-day total to 18-under in the $1 million Asian Tour event at the Amata Spring Country Club.

World number three Swede Henrik Stenson matched Garcia's 65 and shared the second place alongside India's Anirban Lahiri who carded a 67.

Rose bogeyed his final hole for a two-under-par 70 to sit at fourth spot, five strokes behind the leader.

"It was great obviously to be able to go out there and shoot 65 again," Garcia told reporters after sinking eight birdies, including two on the final holes, against a lone bogey.

"I played nicely and felt pretty comfortable. I was able to hit some really nice shots and then was able to roll two or three really good putts in and it was nice to be able to finish birdie, birdie on this difficult finishing stretch."

The Ryder Cup hero was aware of the low-scoring conditions and a possible challenge from Stenson, who became the first man to win the U.S. Tour's lucrative FedExCup series and finish top of the European money list in 2013.

"Not only Henrik... there are probably five or six guys who can shoot a really good number. It's going to be exciting tomorrow," said Garcia, who had his girlfriend Katharina Boehm caddying for him.

"I want to try to be as aggressive as possible. I want to still try to make as many birdies as I can and if I manage to do that, then I'm going to put it quite difficult to the rest.

"I think if I start getting a little defensive, then I can give them a good opportunity of catching me."

A bogey-free third round has rejuvenated Stenson, who was preparing a final charge.

"That was a good day," Stenson, 37, said. "It was definitely the best I played this week. Made some good birdies and some really good saves to keep the momentum going. Those were crucial.

"Even though I'm tired and worn out, as soon as you see your name on the leaderboard, all of a sudden that tiredness goes away and you're looking forward to be there and hopefully have a chance to win.

"I know Sergio is desperate to get his hands on a trophy but I'll try to challenge him."

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SAfrica's Van der Walt wins Mandela Championship

DURBAN, South Africa — Dawie van der Walt shot a 4-under 66 Saturday to win the Nelson Mandela Championship by two shots, giving the tournament a South African victory in a week when the country bids farewell to its former president.

Van der Walt finished with a three-round total of 15-under 195 as the sun eventually shone on the final day of the rain-shortened event. It was his second European Tour victory. England's Matthew Baldwin (68) and Spain's Jorge Campillo (68) were tied for second.

Even before the rain disrupted the first two days, organizers had changed the schedule ensure the tournament didn't run over into Sunday out of respect for the state funeral of Mandela, the South African anti-apartheid leader who died last week.

"It's making you kind of part of history, winning the Nelson Mandela at this time when it's sad for everyone and everyone's mourning and tomorrow's the big day," Van der Walt said, wearing a black ribbon on his cap. "It obviously means a lot and can be something that I can keep close to my heart forever."

Van der Walt lifted a trophy that depicts an image of Mandela surrounded by children and also won a painting bearing the signature of South Africa's most famous figure. The tournament donated money to one of Mandela's charities, a children's hospital that bears his name.

Englishman Daniel Brooks had held a three-shot lead after the second round in Durban, which was only completed earlier Saturday because of the weather delays. But he struggled with five bogeys and a double bogey in his final-round 76.

Van der Walt, who was tied for second heading to the final 18 holes, made five birdies and an eagle to go with three bogeys on the Mount Edgecombe course. He recovered from his third bogey at No. 11 by making eagle at No. 12 and birdie at No. 13. The South African also caught a break on the par-5 No. 14 when a shot heading toward the rough took a favorable bounce.

Neither Baldwin nor Campillo could apply enough pressure in the final stretch, with Baldwin making just one birdie in his last 11 and Campillo dropping a crucial shot at No. 15. Campillo and Colin Nel on Friday became the first players to shoot 59s in a European Tour event, although their scores don't count as records because players were given preferred lies on the rain-soaked course.

France's Romain Wattel was alone in fourth at 12 under and South Africa's Oliver Bekker fifth. American John Hahn finished in a four-way tie for sixth alongside four-time European Tour winner Branden Grace.

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