PLAYING alongside childhood idol Sergio Garcia helped add to a memorable US Open for Eddie Pepperell.

The 26-year-old shot a three-under par 69 in the third round to sit inside the top 20 for the final day and level with the Spaniard on four-under.

Pepperell tweeted his excitement at the opportunity of playing with his ‘favourite golfer’, before going on to beat the World No 6, who won his first Major at the Masters this year, by a shot.

He said: “That (being paired with Garcia) was really cool.

“He’s the one guy when I was growing up I loved watching the most, even ahead of Tiger Woods.

“He’s always been a super nice guy, so I knew it was going to be a good experience, just watching him play up close and seeing his mannerisms, attitude and temperament.

“But I went out and tried to focus on my own game despite of that.

“I felt like it was an opportunity to try to beat a better player and I managed to do that, but he was not quite on his game.”

The pair shared a few words on the 18th green.

When asked what he said to Garcia, Pepperell replied: “I said to him ‘you should have won a major ten years ago’ – no I didn’t say that, I wasn’t brave enough.

“I just said ‘it was a pleasure to play with you, a real honour, thanks and well done on the Masters’.

"He’s very nice.”