A Spanish stroll for Sergio

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A year ago the 27-year-old Spaniard was overshadowed by Tiger Woods. This time Garcia is favourite to make his major breakthrough on the course where he finished last in tears eight years ago in his first Open.

A blemish-free round of 68 gave him a three-shot lead and Garcia promised to continue his patient approach to bring home Europe's first major since Paul Lawrie here in 1999.

"I've had the rest of the players chasing me for the last two rounds and that's how I hope it stays," said Garcia. "I've been a little nervous at the start each day but then I've relaxed and stuck to my gameplan. That's what I'll do in the last round and hopefully it will be good enough."

Garcia, three ahead of Steve Stricker, who shot a record-equalling 64, and six ahead of a group of seven in third place, including Paul McGinley, Padraig Harrington and Paul Broadhurst, was given a fantastic ovation by the crowd as he walked up the 18th fairway.

His one scare came when one of his few bad swings on the 17th hole sent his second shot careering left of the green, where it struck a photographer on the head and bounced into the rough. Before hitting a brilliant recovery shot to save par, he made two practice swings in the rough in front of his ball, which might have been deemed to have improved his lie.

On the charge: Steve Stricker

But he was cleared by the R&A and he added: "The rules official told me about it after I signed my card. But they looked at it and said it was totally fine. So no worries there."

Bookies last night made Garcia the 13-8 on favourite, but after Jean Van de Velde's final-hole collapse on the same course eight years ago, nothing is certain.