Spain's Garcia loses lead in Japanese fog

TOKYO, Nov 11 (Reuters) Spain's Sergio Garcia lost his share of the lead and was forced to abandon his third round after 13 holes due to thick fog at the Taiheiyo Masters today.

Garcia trudged unhappily off the Taiheiyo Club's Gotemba Course in rapidly fading light after slipping to seven-under-par following a costly pair of bogeys on the front nine.

Japan's Makoto Inoue took advantage to take a provisional one-shot lead from countryman Katsumasa Miyamoto on 11-under-par before being called off the course after parring the 16th.

Mitsuhiro Tateyama claimed the clubhouse lead after completing a round of 69 to improve to seven-under-par 209.

Inoue made five birdies against a single bogey to climb to the top of the leaderboard after starting the day in a three-way tie for sixth place.

Miyamoto had shared the overnight lead with playing partners Garcia and Daisuke Maruyama on nine under and he went to 10 under before fog became too dense to continue.

Maruyama dropped three shots as visibility deteriorated to the point that even Mount Fuji, which looms over the picturesque course, disappeared from view.

Torrential rain had already forced tournament organisers to suspend play for 90 minutes in the morning and 21 players had yet to hole out when the decision was taken to call them in.

Those players face an early start on Sunday with the resumption of third-round play scheduled to start at 0720 local time before the start of the final round.

Defending champion Darren Clarke was at least able to complete his round but he continued to struggle, carding a 73 that left the Ryder Cup player on one-over-par.

REUTERS PM RK1615