Good start for Garcia, who describes game as 'horrible'

PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. (AP) Sergio Garcia has missed the cut in seven straight majors dating to the end of 2017, and he missed the cut in his two events coming into the U.S. Open. He opened with a 2-under 69, which would seem to be the spark he needed.

Or maybe not.

Asked how he felt about his game going into the week, Garcia said, ''Horrible.''

Then he was asked to expand on what he meant by that.

''I mean, I can say it louder, but not clearer,'' he said.

The Spaniard was more matter-of-fact than terse in his interview, willing to accept that his game is not where he'd like it.

He said the best part of his day was that he fought as hard as he could.

''The game doesn't feel good at the moment. It's as simple as that,'' Garcia said. ''We go through some of those stretches, and unfortunately, I'm picking the wrong part of the year to go through one of those. But the only thing I can do is keep fighting and try to shoot the lowest I can shoot. And whatever that is, we will see.''

As for the rest of the week?

''I don't think I have much of a chance of winning this week the way I'm feeling,'' he said. ''But, you know, the planets have aligned before. If they do again, and it helps me, then it's a good thing.''

Garcia said he hit some nice shots and some shots that ''looked like a 25-handicapper.'' Asked for the best shot he did in the opening round, he mentioned a bunker shot on his final hole at No. 9 to 3 feet.

''Unfortunately, I screwed it up with the putter,'' he said.