Sergio Garcia produced a superb round of 61 to leapfrog Justin Rose and take a three shot lead at the halfway stage of the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational at Firestone Country Club.
The Spaniard arrived in Ohio on the back of two second placed finishes - at the Travelers Championship and 143rdOpen Championship – and was four shots off overnight leader Marc Leishman following an opening 68.
However, Garcia putted himself into pole position on Friday with 11 consecutive one putts from the ninth to equal the course record held by defending champion Tiger Woods and Jose Maria Olazabal.
Thanks to that prowess on the greens the 34 year old Spaniard collected a remarkable eight birdies in round two, including seven consecutive red figures from the 12th en route to a back nine of 27 and an 11 under par total.
Garcia, who is yet to win a World Golf Championship, said: “It was definitely a dream back nine. I felt like I started well and hit some good shots early on, but still missed a couple of good birdie chances.
“Then I obviously got a little bit lucky on the front nine. I hit three bad tee shots on four, eight and nine, and I was able to have a shot at the green and made a couple of good up and downs.
“Then the back nine was, I don't know, I just started hitting good shots, rolling the putts in, and everything seemed to happen. I was just enjoying it as much as I could.”
On equalling the South Course record, he added: “It obviously feels great to be able to shoot the course record or equal the record on a course like this, which is not - even playing soft - that easy a course.
“You have to drive the ball very, very well. You have to put the ball on the greens on the right spots because you can get some really, really fast putts.
“So to be able to do it and obviously being in a group with Tiger and Jose Maria, but still, to be able to be in that group, it feels really good.”
Englishman Rose, who won back-to-back events for the first time in his career before finishing 23rd at Royal Liverpool, had a third victory in four events in his sights until his Ryder Cup team mate’s late surge.
Beginning on the back nine today, the 34 year old – second behind Woods in this event in 2007 - dropped his first shot of the week on the 14th, but then gained four more to card a three under par 67.
Last year’s US Open Champion said: “I am really happy with the way I turned the long game around, and to hit 16 greens out there is pretty solid, but for the most part I just hit it close to the hole as well.
“Early in the round, the putts kept sliding by. I wasn't seeing the line all that well and I think 18 was the first putt I made. From there I felt pretty comfortable with the putts and I had a couple of good looks coming in. All in all, it's a good start to the tournament.”
Open Champion Rory McIlroy boosted his hopes of wrestling the World Number One spot back off Adam Scott by ending four shots off the lead following a six under par 64.
The Northern Irishman will reclaim top spot in the Official World Golf Rankings if he is triumphant at Firestone and Scott fails to make the top five.
He began his round with three consecutive birdies and overcame a bogey on the sixth with another four gains, including two red numbers to finish.
McIlroy was delighted to stay in touch with Garcia, and said: "He obviously played in front of us, and he seemed like he was playing well. Every time I looked back, he was putting a ball in the hole, and the crowd was cheering.
"I knew that he was making a few birdies, and I knew I had to make a few birdies just to try and stay in touch. It was nice just to make a few coming in.
"I'm still four back going into the weekend, but I feel like that could have been a lot more. So it's a good finish.
"I do have a good relationship with Sergio, and it's just great to see him play like this again.
"I grew up idolising the guy. He's obviously really happy with everything that's going on. He seems in a really good place, and it's good to see him play like this."
Also on seven under is Leishman, fresh from finishing in a tie for fifth at Royal Liverpool, after the Australian shot a 69 following a mixed inward nine that contained three bogeys and as many birdies.
A further shot behind are South African Charl Schwartzel and American Rickie Fowler.
Schwartzel holed a ten footer for a birdie on the tenth to draw level with Rose, only to bogey the 14th and 17th.
Fowler, who has three top five finishes in Majors in 2014 ahead of next week’s US PGA Championship, ended strongly on the front nine, including an eagle on the par five second to hit a second successive 67.
A dropped shot on his final hole - the ninth - meant Australian Scott had to settle on three under par, two better than Woods.
The 14 time Major Winner, who has won eight times at the Firestone Country Club, shot 61 in his second round last year en route to a resounding seven shot victory.
But the American failed to replicate those efforts today as he carded a one over par 71.
