CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Sergio Garcia left a world-class field in his wake Saturday, making eight birdies in his first 15 holes for 5-under-par 67 that gave him a six-shot lead in the Wachovia Championship.
Except for a few wayward tee shots into the trees, Garcia was nearly flawless from tee to green, and even better with his putter. He pulled away with three straight birdies along the back nine, and refused to let the brutal finishing holes stop him on his way to 12-under 204.
D.J. Trahan, a 24-year-old rookie, did his best to challenge Garcia until stumbling on the back nine to 71. He was at 6-under 210, along with Vijay Singh and Jim Furyk.
Furyk, in his best performance since wrist surgery a year ago, had 69 and will be paired with the 25-year-old Spaniard today. He wasn't holding out much hope.
"He's lapping the field right now," Furyk said. "The golf tournament is in his hands; he's going to determine who the winner is. He goes out and shoots 70, you can hand him the trophy."
Singh played in the final group with Garcia on Saturday and was no match, shooting 71.
Nick Price had 69 and was at 211.
Tiger Woods, who has never finished worse than third in his first event after winning the Masters Tournament, might see that streak end. He squandered opportunities on the front nine and failed to make a birdie over the final 11 holes for 73, leaving him at 1-under 215.
Phil Mickelson had 73 and was at 1-over 217.
It was only the third time Garcia has held a 54-hole lead on the PGA Tour, although never one this big. The other two were at the 2001 Buick Classic and the Byron Nelson Championship in 2004, both times by two shots. He won both.
No one expects anything different this time.
The six-shot lead is the largest on the PGA Tour since Mickelson led by seven in a wire-to-wire win at Pebble Beach. Garcia kept saying he was on top of his game from the opening round, and no one doubts him now.
Garcia rolled in a 20-foot birdie putt on the par-3 13th, then fearlessly ripped a driver to the front edge of the 358-yard 14th hole, pitching to 10 feet for another birdie. And when he two-putted from 35 feet on the par-5 15th, it was his eighth birdie of the round and gave him a five-shot lead.
Woods and Mickelson simply are playing for position in the final round.
Lefty hit into the water on the 17th for the second straight day to make double bogey and hasn't been able to get anything going all week.
"I had my chances on the front nine and didn't get it done," Woods said. "The only thing I can control is what I've got."
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