Henrik Stenson takes over lead in Boston

Henrik Stenson: Three clear. Picture: Reuters

The Spaniard was two shots ahead overnight, although some players were forced to complete their third rounds yesterday due to continuing poor weather.

Garcia, 33, was out of sorts and bogeyed the second, fourth and seventh holes – with only a birdie on the par-4 fifth limiting the damage before another deluge forced the players off the course.

Swede Henrik Stenson was second heading in to the final round but was able to keep things together and take over the lead as Garcia blundered.

A dropped shot at the second suggested Stenson was also going to find play hard going in his final round, but he quickly turned things around, as he managed four birdies over the remainder of the eight holes he played before the rain delay – putting him three shots clear of the field.

American quartet Jordan Spieth, Steve Stricker, Jason Dufner and Roberto Castro moved level in second place, alongside Garcia, with 20-year-old Spieth holding an early clubhouse lead following a stunning 62.

Meanwhile, women’s world No 3 Suzann Pettersen stormed to victory in the Safeway Classic, carding a five-under-par final round to take advantage of Yani Tseng’s implosion and win by two shots.

The Norwegian was three shots back at the start of the day and a double bogey at the par-3 second was not the most promising of starts to the day, but she carded eight birdies and dropped just one more shot to finish 20-under-par for her second LPGA title of the year.

Tseng also carded a five at the second and for her that set the tone for a difficult day, as a further six bogeys and two birdies saw her manage just a six-over-par 78 which left her 12 under for a share of ninth.

Pettersen was one of the stars of Europe’s successful Solheim Cup campaign and she finished directly ahead of three of the members of the vanquished American team – Stacy Lewis, Lizette Salas and Cristie Kerr.