PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. — Sergio Garcia put together his third straight impressive round at The Players Championship. The first two gave him a runner-up finish last year. The 6-under 66 today was only a great start.

With growing confidence in his balky putting stroke and superb ball-striking that has become his hallmark, Garcia birdied all the par 5s and picked up a bonus birdie with a 50-foot putt on the 14th hole to take the lead on the Stadium Course.

It was a good step toward ending an 0-for-53 drought on the PGA Tour, the longest of his career.

"At the end of the day, the only thing I can do is keep working on it, keep giving myself chances, and it's going to happen," Garcia said. "I feel like I'm getting closer and closer. At least now, I feel like I can do it, and it's just a matter of being able to do it."

Dean Wilson, a Castle High alum, shot a 2-over-par 74 in the opening round, and is tied for 72nd place.