Page 17 - atoday

SPORTS A17
Friday 26 February 2016

NOVAK
NO FINAL

Sergio Garcia, of Spain, re- Djokovic retires from match, ending run of finals
acts after making an eagle
on the second hole during the Novak Djokovic from Serbia returns
first round of the Honda Clas- the ball to Malek Jaziri from Tunisia
sic golf tournament, Thursday, during the third day of Dubai Tennis
Feb. 25, 2016, in Palm Beach Championships in Dubai, United Arab
Gardens, Fla. Emirates, Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2016.
Associated Press Associated Press
Page
Garcia, Thompson
tied for lead

at Honda Classic

DOUG FERGUSON
AP Golf Writer
PALM BEACH GARDENS,
Fla. (AP) — Sergio Garcia
made an eagle, avoided
an alligator and wound up
in a share of the lead Thurs-
day in the Honda Classic.
Garcia holed out with an
8-iron from 142 yards into
the wind on the second
hole for an eagle, and he
narrowly missed an eagle
putt on the 18th hole at
PGA National. The Span-
iard shot 5-under 65 and
shared the lead with Mi-
chael Thompson, the 2013
Honda Classic winner, who
also birdied the last hole.
They were one shot ahead
of Rickie Fowler and Wil-
liam McGirt.
The biggest excitement for
Garcia was on the par-4
sixth hole, where he made
his lone bogey.
His tee shot found the wa-
ter left of the fairway, shal-
low enough for him to roll
up his pants and try to play
it out to the fairway. That
part was easy. He looked
over his shoulder because
of an alligator on the is-
land, making sure it wasn’t
going anywhere soon.

Continued on page 19