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LONDON : Sergio Garcia, having created his share of Spanish sporting success on Friday with a second round 64 in the European Open, headed off from the London Club course in Kent, south-east of London, to witness another as compatriot Rafael Nadal won through to the Wimbledon final.
Garcia's round ultimately left him four shots behind leader Ross Fisher after the Englishman backed up his course record 63 with a four under par 68.
Should Garcia and Nadal, who has already won the French Open this year, both triumph this Sunday it would be a cause for yet more rejoicing in Spain after their football team beat Germany in the final of Euro 2008.
Garcia got to know Nadal in Majorca last October, playing golf and tennis in a pro-am.
"It was awesome playing tennis with him," said the 28-year-old Garcia.
"He was quite impressed with my game and I was impressed with his golf.
"Rafa and I send messages to each other and I'm sure he will be happy about my round."
Meanwhile Fisher was pleased by the way in which he'd cemented his position. "After a 63 you just want to show people that it wasn't a fluke and I'm pretty pleased with that.
"I didn't feel entirely comfortable with my swing, but I almost felt - it almost sounds funny - I was in the zone a little bit. I was just walking around with a tremendous amount of calmness and peacefulness in myself.
"You've got loads of superstars this week and it gives you a tremendous amount of confidence beating so many of the top boys. We'll see what happens come Sunday."
Garcia, regarded as one of the best current golfers yet to win a Major, played the first nine holes in just 32 shots but was even more impressive over the closing nine in what was his first tournament in the UK since he lost a play-off for last year's British Open to Padraig Harrington.
But having won the Players Championship in Florida in May, he is among the favourites for the 2008 Open at Royal Birkdale later this month in the absence through injury of Tiger Woods.
However, in this tournament, Garcia was still three shots behind playing partner Graeme McDowell who ended the day in second place after a 67 followed his first round 65.
"It's always difficult to follow up a good day at the office, so today's round probably gave me more satisfaction," said McDowell.
"My job was to keep the foot on the pedal and keep it going. I'll take 12 under at halfway every week, whether it leads or not, and I fully expect to be in the mix come Sunday afternoon," the Northern Ireland golfer added.
Defending champion Colin Montgomerie, who won this event in Ireland last year, maintained his return to form with a five-under par 67.
That left the Scot, runner-up in last week's European Tour French Open, six shots off the lead.
Montgomerie is known for not taking kindly to still photographers who let go of their camera shutters when he is taking his downswing but during this round it was a television buggy driver who incurred his displeasure.
Microphones recorded an annoyed Montgomerie saying: "You are only here because of me."
Explaining the incident, Montgomerie said: "He was on my line and didn't want to move - that was all. He did eventually. I asked him politely."
This was Montgomerie's lowest round in Europe since the closing 65 which saw him win the European Open at the K Club last year.
- AFP /ls
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