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TULSA, Oklahoma - Spanish golfer Sergio Garcia says he will be stronger for his agonisingly narrow miss at winning the British Open and yearns for the same opportunity to triumph in this week's PGA Championship at Southern Hills.
Garcia grazed the left edge of the cup on a putt for victory from about two and a half metres on the final hole of regulation last month at Carnoustie before losing in a playoff to Padraig Harrington.
The 27-year-old Spaniard comes to stifling-hot Southern Hills looking for his first win in a major after 36 tries.
"I didn't win the British Open, Padraig did and he deserved it," Garcia told a news conference.
"I think overall it was a great experience to be up in the lead all week long. I think I learned a lot from it. And I actually had a winning putt, and I hit a great putt. Unfortunately it didn't go in."
Garcia made his first big splash in the majors at the 1999 US PGA at Medinah when as a 19-year-old he challenged Tiger Woods to the last hole before finishing runner-up.
He said dealing with his Carnoustie disappointment was difficult but would make him better.
"It wasn't easy for a couple of days after. But you get over it," said Garcia, who found escape by playing tennis and going to the beach with friends.
Garcia said his father, Victor, a European Senior Tour player and the only coach he has had, gave him support.
"He said, 'Well played.' He almost had tears in his eyes, but he told me, 'You did all you could. You did everything right. Unfortunately it just wasn't meant to happen.'
"I'm ready for this week and hoping that I can get myself as good a chance as I gave myself in Carnoustie."
Garcia said he would follow the Carnoustie game plan at Southern Hills, where he tied for 12th at the 2001 US Open.
"I stayed within myself throughout the whole week. I was very calm all week, very confident with myself, very confident with my game. I stuck to my game plan. That's what got me to a winning position."
Immediately after his bitter defeat, Garcia complained that bad breaks and bad luck on missed putts kept him from winning.
"I was emotional. I opened up to you guys (in the media) and I said what I felt. I didn't want to take anything away from Padraig winning the Open. I felt like I played well enough to win it and unfortunately it didn't happen."
Garcia said he was sticking with the belly putter he used at the British Open and that his putting was solid.
He was asked if there was anything he would have done differently, in retrospect, at Carnoustie.
"I would have tried to hit that putt on 18 a little bit further right," he said. "I just hope that I have the winning putt here again."
- REUTERS
