Golf-Pacesetting Garcia reaps reward for hard work on short game

By Mark Lamport-Stokes

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Florida, May 8 (Reuters) - Sergio Garcia gave a strong indication that erratic putting, so often his Achilles' heel, could be a problem of the past after taking charge at the Players Championship on Thursday.

The Spaniard, yet to fulfil early predictions that he would emerge as a rival for world number one Tiger Woods, needed only 29 putts to forge two shots clear in the opening round.

"I really like the way I'm stroking it and I'm pretty happy with everything that's going on," Garcia, 28, told reporters after setting the pace with a six-under-par 66 on a breezy day at the Tournament Players Club at Sawgrass.

"There are days that are better than others but the good thing is that there are days when it's very good so that's always something to look forward to."

Long regarded by his peers as one of the game's best players from tee to green, Garcia has all too often paid a price with poor putting.

After experimenting with short and long putters, as well as conventional and cross-handed grips, he began working with short game guru Stan Utley at the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship in February.

Following three months of hard work, plus a return to a putter he last used in 2000, he has steadily improved.

"When I first talked to Stan, our main idea was to get back to the way I used to putt, like 10, 12 years ago when I was a good putter," Garcia said.