Garcia was last of the entire 47-man field at Augusta

The 26-year-old Spaniard, eight over after 15 overnight, leaked another bogey on 17 to slump to nine over.

England's David Howell and Irishman Padraig Harrington also saw their hopes disappear in the third round.

Howell carded a four-over 76 to slump to two over for 54 holes, the same score as Harrington, who shot a 75.

For the 30-year-old Howell the damage was done on Saturday when he started with a triple bogey. He mixed two birdies with two bogeys after the resumption of his round on Sunday.

The putting is what really let me down, but I'm not saying I am out of the tournament Padraig Harrington

The 34-year-old Harrington's decline was far more spectacular. Having birdied the short 12th to get to within touching distance of the lead at three under, he then self-destructed over the next three holes.

Double-bogey sevens at the the par-five 13th and 15th were followed by another dropped shot at the 16th. He parred the last two but was now well down the leaderboard.

Yet the Dubliner, who is now six shots off Phil Mickelson's lead, said: "I am exceptionally upbeat about the way I played. I played great and Augusta's a bit like that.

"The putting is what really let me down, but I'm not saying I am out of the tournament. If I play as well and putt better I'll give myself a chance.

"There are a lot of people in with a chance and with the pins where they are there's going to be low scoring."

One shot worse off than this pair is Swede Carl Pettersson, who carded a 73.

England's Luke Donald and Dane Thomas Bjorn both shot 76 for six over and eight over respectively on Saturday.

On Saturday, thunderstorms over Augusta caused a four-hour delay to proceedings, leading to about half the field having to complete their third rounds on Sunday morning.

Garcia, who played either side of the stoppage, collected five bogeys by the 10th and amassed a triple-bogey seven at the 11th before a lone birdie at 15 took him to eight over.