Sergio Garcia knows he's cultivated a reputation as one of golf's slowest players. He's well-aware that the constant, almost compulsive, regripping can cause frustration for those who watch.

But Garcia said his habit isn't as bad as often perceived - at least not anymore.

"Now I feel a lot more comfortable, and I don't think I take that long over the ball," the Spaniard said.

Garcia has a more confident grip on his clubs and, as a result, his game. The 22-year-old shot a 1-under-par 71 in Friday's second round, which was suspended by rain and is scheduled to be completed today.

His two-day total of 5-under 139 has him tied for third with Padraig Harrington and Angel Cabrera.

"I didn't feel comfortable with the setup, so I was trying to find something when I was over the ball," Garcia said of his regripping habit. "But now that I feel a lot more comfortable, I don't have to take that long."

Last year, in his third Masters appearance, Garcia wasn't on the grounds long before missing the cut and heading home early. This time, he secured an extended stay.

Garcia shot 3-under 68 in the first round and went to 5-under with a birdie on the par-3 fourth. His tee shot left him with a difficult putt, a 35-footer with a big break, but he hit it perfectly for his first birdie of the day.

Garcia encountered trouble on the back nine, dropping to 4-under on the 11th. His drive on the par-5 13th hit the trees and dropped into the water, and he later two-putted for bogey.

But Garcia recovered by going birdie-birdie on Nos. 14 and 15. An outstanding approach on the 14th left him with a one-foot putt, then he got to the green in two on the 15th before two-putting for birdie.

Garcia bogeyed the next hole and parred the 17th, but he left the course feeling good after escaping the now-treacherous 18th with a birdie. A 5-iron on his second shot put him 16 feet past the pin. Then he made the putt - and made up for his bogey on the same hole the day before.

Garcia finished tied for 38th as an amateur at the Masters in 1999, and big things were expected of him on his subsequent two trips down Magnolia Lane. But the 5-foot-10, 160-pounder has yet to deliver, having tied for 40th in 2000 before the missed cut last year.

His Masters fortunes - and his pace - have since changed for the better. Now, the talk turns to his quest to win his first major.

"I think I want it as badly as anybody else," he said.