There is a common thread between the two closest golfers to Sergio Garcia for today’s pushed-back final round of the Buick Classic at Westchester CC. Scott Hoch and J.P. Hayes combined to perch-up 27 of 28 second shots yesterday, earning preferred lies by putting their tee shots in the short grass.

Deluges change the adage around. When it’s soggy, would-be winners drive for place, not show. As in lift, clean and place, the extra reward for hitting the mushy fairway.

“I’m not saying I agree with it, but it’s a big advantage to hit fairways, and even more of an advantage when you can tee it up,” said Hoch, trailing Garcia by two shot after firing a 3-under 68 yesterday.

“I like playing the game from different lies. I understand why they do it, but it’s not my favorite thing to do,” Hoch said.

“Definitely an advantage,” said Hayes, who hit every fairway for the second straight day and stands 9-under, three behind Garcia. “I gave myself a lot of chances for good iron shots.”

Each indicated he did not alter his game to take advantage of the ground rule, but the additional benefit mattered.

“I played pretty consistently. The only fairway I missed was on the last hole when I tried to kill it,” said Hoch, who stands 10-under for the tourney. “The last two months, I’m really driving it well. And putting.”

Hoch won the Greensboro Open this year and finished sixth at the Kemper. He shared the Buick lead with Garcia after the second round.

Hayes, on the other hand, has only won once in his tour career, that victory coming here in 1998 in another rainy Buick, the shortened 54-hole 1998 edition.

“When you can go three rounds missing just one fairway, and that being in the first cut, you’re going to score pretty well,” Hayes said.

The rule will probably revert today to playing the ball as it lays. They’ll still like staying out of the rough.