The greens were so fast that Sergio Garcia didn't know when the ball was going to stop. He was happy to see the day end with a 2-under 69, giving him a two-shot lead over Nick Watney going into the final round of The Barclays.
Garcia fell out of the lead with a three-putt bogey on the third hole, but he didn't have another one the rest of the round on a Bethpage Black course that lived up to its tough reputation Saturday because of greens that reminded players of another course on Long Island.
Shinnecock Hills came up more than once. That's when the USGA lost control of the greens in the final round of the U.S. Open, and even had to water one green in the middle of the round. Bethpage wasn't that bad, but it was close.
Watney, who made five putts over 15 feet, three-putted the final hole when his putt went racing 10 feet by the cup. He had to settle for a 71, giving him another round in the final group.
"Hopefully, the pins will be in spots where there's some grass on the greens and the ball will stop rolling," Watney said.
Tiger Woods, who started the third round three shots out of the lead, three-putted for bogey three times on the front nine alone. He had another three-putt on the 14th hole, this one from 15 feet, and had a 72 that put him six shots behind.
