The Loop

Sergio Garcia is among the leaders at Oakmont thanks to this incredible par save

June 17, 2016

We've come to expect Sergio Garcia's major championship appearances to end in frustration. But for at least one day, he walked off the course with a big smile.

Thanks to a remarkable par on Oakmont's ninth hole, Garcia is in the hunt at the U.S. Open. He could have just as easily taken a tumble down the leader board.

On his final hole of the second round, Garcia pulled his drive well left and into deep fescue. Somehow, the Spaniard managed to hack his ball back into the fairway -- both avoiding a wrist injury on impact and any other bodily harm when the momentum from his swing caused him to trip and he nearly fell.

Garcia hit an indifferent third shot onto the green, some 50 feet from the hole and then did this just before play was called due to darkness:

What a putt. What a reaction.

Garcia finished the round at two under, just two strokes behind leaders Andrew Landry and Dustin Johnson, with whom he played 36 holes on Friday. Of course, Johnson and Garcia are both still searching for that elusive first major. Perhaps, that will change if the two can manage another tee time together late on Sunday.