LOS ANGELES ?Sergio Garcia was standing on the seventh tee with three holes to play at Riviera late Thursday afternoon when a fog rapidly descended upon the Northern Trust Open.

Garcia, making a run on the leaderboard, was asked facetiously what he did to cause the weather to change.

밠ust have been my fault,?Garcia good-naturedly cracked.

Garcia, who has wondered aloud if the golf gods are sometimes against him, wasn뭪 fazed. He birdied two of the final three holes to close out a 6-under 65 to move a shot off the lead behind Matt Kuchar. Garcia opened hot with three consecutive birdies.

Garcia closed with a 64 here last year, tying for fourth, his best finish at the Northern Trust Open in seven previous starts. He뭩 looking for his ninth PGA Tour title.

밮ery happy with it, my first tournament in the U.S. this year,?Garcia said. 밒 managed to hit some nice chips and some nice putts. Very pleased.?/P>

Garcia hit just 12 greens in regulation but scrambled well when he needed to do so. He took just 25 putts.