Garcia looks to end major frustration

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It is almost 10 years since Garcia grabbed the golfing world's attention by running Tiger Woods close at the 1999 US PGA Championship. The Spaniard, then 19, finished second at Medinah, the first of 14 top-10, nine top-five and three runner-up finishes in the majors.

Yet as he prepared to tee off in Thursday's first round of the US Open alongside fellow pretenders Camilo Villegas and Adam Scott at 6:25pm BST, world number four Garcia said: "That's what I'm here for, to try to win it. So if I didn't think it was possible I would probably be back at home watching in (his hometown) Borriol or something like that."

He added: "So I'm looking forward to the challenge. That's why we practice. And when we go out there we try our hardest.

"Sometimes it comes out all right, sometimes it doesn't. But we're always trying our best."

Set to turn 30 in January, Garcia reflected on his many near misses, including seven years ago at Bethpage Black when he shot a final-round, four over par 74 in the final group alongside Tiger Woods and fell from second place into a tie for fourth.

"In a way, it's funny, because it feels like I've been here for a long time, but at the same time it feels like time has gone so quickly," Garcia said.

"Like you look back at '99 or 2000 and it feels like it was three years ago, not 10 years ago.

"So it's kind of a funny feeling. But I'm very proud with the way my career has gone.

"I think there's no doubt when you turn pro you hope you can go out there and win every tournament and all those things. But realistically I think that I'm proud with what I've done, I think not only on the course but off the course trying to help as many people as possible. So I think we always try our hardest. So, yeah, I'm pretty happy."