 Garcia bounced back from three bogeys in his first four holes |
Sergio Garcia picked up three birdies in the last eight holes to climb back into contention at one over going into the final round of the US Open. The 24-year-old Spaniard had slipped to four over after carding his fifth bogey of the day at the par-four 10th.
But Garcia fought back to within six and is confident he is still in with a chance of winning his first major.
Padraig Harrington's wait, however, will continue after a 76 left the Irishman 15 shots off the lead.
The 32-year-old Dubliner endured a chastening day as four bogeys, a double bogey and no birdies left him near the foot of the leaderboard.
Garcia three-putted two of the first four greens and was three over after four holes before battling back bravely.
"I'm definitely happy after the way I started," he said.
"As tough as this course is playing it's good to get it back at least to one over.
 |  Actually I played lovely, but my birdie putts were all downhill |
"I was trying to fight back and trying to keep focused and not let the moment carry me away. I got some good vibrations with my putter." And Garcia predicted Sunday's final round, threatened by a stiffening breeze, quickening greens and tricky pin positions, will be "survival of the fittest".
"If tomorrow blows and the pins are as tough as today we will still be putting," he said.
"I'm really looking forward to it. I feel like I trust my game and my putting is coming around."
The highly-fancied Harrington had been hoping to fight his way back into the event after making the cut by one shot.
But sloppy iron play and a cool putter reduced him to 10 over for 54 holes.
"It was one of those days - very, very, very peculiar," said the Dubliner, whose playing partner JJ Henry slumped to an 86.
Harrington added: "It helps to see good things and neither of us could get the ball into the hole all day. Actually I played lovely, but my birdie putts were all downhill.
"I got frustrated when I didn't birdie the fifth (he has parred the 537-yard hole all three days) and made a couple of silly errors."
Swedish qualifier Daniel Chopra was the leading European at one stage but slumped to a 76 to finish on seven over.
Alex Cejka, a potential Ryder Cup team-mate for Garcia and Harrington, fared slightly better with a 73 for eight over, while Sweden's Joakim Haeggman, an assistant for the September match, carded 76 for nine over.
MMIX
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