The International

I could write up something myself, but I haven't seen much of the first two rounds, except for the close up of Sergio's rear end on Thursday - Thanks Gary McCord for that :). So I thought I would just post this news artice:

Garcia closes in on leaders

Sergio tallies 10 points Friday to move into third

By Gary Baines, Camera Sports Editor
August 12, 2006

CASTLE ROCK — Sergio Garcia is set to return to the site that made him famous, but first he has a little business to conduct in Colorado.

The Spaniard literally jumped into the consciousness of many golf fans as a 19-year-old with his scissor-kick leap en route to a runner-up finish to Tiger Woods at the 1999 PGA Championship at Medinah Country Club. And he'll return to that course near Chicago next week for the PGA.

But all in good time. For now, he'd love to notch his first worldwide victory in 11 months by capturing the International trophy at Castle Pines Golf Club. Garcia scored 10 points in Friday's second round of the International to move into third place, two points behind leader Patrick Sheehan and one back of Canadian Ian Leggatt.

"I'm going to try to give myself a chance to win here," Garcia said after finishing two rounds with 16 points. "I just want to focus on this week."

For several hours Friday afternoon, the focus was on the sky above Castle Pines, where lightning and rain assured that the International kept intact its streak of having at least one weather delay every year it's been held, dating back to 1986.

A 3-hour, 34-minute stoppage, in which six-tenths of an inch of rain forced standing water to have to be pumped out of many bunkers, ended at 6:30 p.m. Competitors then got in another 1 hour, 19 minutes of play before darkness stopped the action.

For the 72 players who didn't complete their second rounds, they'll resume play at 7:30 a.m. today. A cut to the best 70 players and ties will be made after the second round is finished, pairings will be set, then round 3 will begin. Thirty-six players will advance to Sunday's final round.

There's a good chance players will need six points total to earn a spot in round 3, which leaves golfers at five points through 36 holes — such as Phil Mickelson, Jose Maria Olazabal and Mark O'Meara — in danger of being cut. When play was stopped because of darkness, 69 players stood at six points or better, meaning that if at least one more moves up past six, without anyone moving down, the cut will be at six.

Others in danger of exiting after two rounds are Chris DiMarco (minus-3 points through 29 holes) and David Duval (zero through 32 holes).

Big names who look to be in good shape to stick around for round 3 are defending champion Retief Goosen (12 points through 30 holes), Greg Norman (eight through 32 holes), Ernie Els (eight through 30 holes) and Davis Love (seven through 36).

Sheehan and Leggatt, ranked 158th and 211th, respectively, on this year's PGA Tour money list, were grouped together the first two rounds and fed off each other's good play.

Sheehan, winless in four seasons on the PGA Tour, birdied his last three holes to finish with eight points for the day and 18 for the tournament. Leggatt, despite a double bogey on his first hole, chalked up 13 points Friday to finish at 17 overall. The third member of the threesome, Chris Riley, wasn't bad either, ending up with six points for the second straight day for 12 total.

"We had a great group," said Sheehan, who turned 37 years old on Wednesday. "Ian made two eagles. ... He had a huge day.

"It was a good group for me because everybody talks to each other and you're telling jokes. We all played pretty well (Thursday) and it just kind of continued today. Everybody's in a good mood. A guy makes a couple of birdies and you just follow him up."

Garcia has been a regular in contention at the International. Five times since 1999 he's qualified for the final round, but he's suffered through a major Sunday slump, losing a cumulative 12 shots in the final round. Of course, that's not an unusual trend for Garcia, who owns a 73.9 Sunday scoring average on Tour this year. Recently, paired with Tiger Woods in the final round of the British Open, Garcia posted a 73 to finish fifth, his best finish of the year on Tour.

But given his position this week, and that has game has taken an upturn in the last month, Garcia is much more upbeat these days.

"I'm definitely a lot happier than I was just before the U.S. Open," he said. "I'm feeling much better. Everything is coming together a little bit better. There is room for improvement, but I feel good about it."

And, looking ahead to the PGA at Medinah next week, Garcia said, "Medinah and Chicago is a special place for me. It's where everybody got to know me. I'm hoping I can go out there and put on a good show. I'd love to finish one better than last time. But if not, at least I'll be around there and get a nice feeling from the people."

On Friday, Garcia overcome a double bogey at the par-3 16th hole (his seventh) to rack up seven birdies. And he finished up with a par after hitting his drive into the water at No. 9.

Leggatt, winner of the 2002 Tucson Open, was limited in his play in both 2004 and 2005 due to carpal tunnel syndrome in his left wrist. He's playing on Tour this year thanks to a medical exemption.

"Everything is good; my hand is feeling fine," said Leggatt, who also has battled a major sinus infection and an elbow problem in recent years. "It's been a long, hard road back. This is sort of where I left off with all my injuries — I was getting myself into positions like this a lot in '02. So it's nice to have that feeling again."

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