Welcome back, Sergio

For the 16th time in his career, Sergio Garcia posted a top-10 finish in a major. His tie for seventh at Congressional in the U.S. Open marked his best start in a major since a tie for 10th at the 2009 U.S. Open.

By Helen Ross, PGATOUR.COM Chief of Correspondents

BETHESDA, Md. -- Sergio Garcia's comeback trail continued at the U.S. Open as he turned in a solid tie for seventh.

The Spaniard shot a 70 on Sunday to finish at 5 under and post his phenomenal 16th top-10 finish in a major championship. He shot par or better in every round at Congressional, the first time he's completed a tournament in that manner since the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational 10 months ago.

"I think it was a good result," Garcia said. "Obviously a shame, the last couple (he bogeyed No. 18 on Sunday). But overall I think that the first day we played really well and then we managed to stay very patient the next three days without having our best game. I'm happy about that, so that's a positive, and then we'll just hopefully keep moving forward."

The seven-time PGA TOUR champ took a two-month sabbatical from the game last fall. He's come back strong in 2011, though, and he's now posted top-20 finishes  in six of his eight starts on the PGA TOUR.

"It's getting there," Garcia said. "There's always things I need to get better at. Yesterday, I felt a little bit jumpy, a little bit nervous. Today, I feel a little bit more calm. But I still had a little bit of trouble trusting a few shots here and there, trusting my draws with the driver. 

"But I know what happens. I know exactly what happens, what is the problem. My body doesn't get through the ball and then I start hitting it right," he added. "But I think, like I said, overall it was a solid week, and that's all I can ask."

Garcia's most recent close call in a major was in the 2008 PGA Championship, where he finished second to Padraig Harrington. He lost in a playoff to Harrington at the previous year's British Open, too. When someone asked Sunday whether he thought he'd ever win a major, the 30-year-old was surprisingly candid.

"I don't know," he said. "I think maybe I'll get lucky one day, but like I said, I'm just trying to get better. I know at the moment it's probably tough for me to get one because things are still not right. But it's getting there, and hopefully it'll get there soon."