JBWere Australian Masters; Garcia smashes the course lowest in the second round
The 30-year-old Spaniard made a giant 50-foot putt at the third green to cap sixth birdie of the day. Garcia who failed to set a mark at Valderrama and Portugal Masters two weeks back captured the course of Victoria Golf Club, as if it was his home ground.
Garcia teed off from the back nine opposing his first round strategy. He picked up his first birdie on the par-4 12th hole. Garcia took the tee shot with a driver, but the strong wind forced the ball to cut short and roll into the rough on the
left. The ball stopped 149-yards away from the pin, but the veteran sand wedged the ball forcing it right into the pin.
Birdie on the 12th was the most beautiful shot made on the course. The wind was blowing from right to left, whereas, the hole was on the left of the bunker. Normally, a wedge is used in windy conditions as the ball flies, but it carries equal
risk as well; the ball can fly in opposite direction. Fighting against the direction of the wind, Garcia slammed a cut, and the ball flew all the way right into the hole.
For the next four holes, Garcia opted to play safe, but on the par-5 17th, he cut loose and smashed another birdie to be followed by another at the last. The Spaniard ironed both the par fives and secured three-under-par in the first half. On
the first two holes, Garcia was unable to fight against the wind, but managed to save par. However, on the third hole, he helped another birdie and bought the score down to four-under-par. Former world number two ended his birdie fiesta with two more power
shots at seventh and ninth. For the first time in 2010, Garcia touched number 65.
The veteran was happy over his achievement. He said, "I just thought, at that time I was minus three in the round and if I could make par then it was still a good score and it didn't stop my run. I hit the putt and as soon as it went on the green, probably
about three yards from the hole with the line it was on, I knew it was going to go."
Sergio Garcia became man of the hour with his excellent putting. He nearly stole the show from the leader, Adam Bland. The Aussie smashed a round of 67 helped by six birdies against two bogeys. Bland stood firm on the number one spot, owing to his first
round or else he would have faltered with two bogeys, which he scored in the second.
Garcia missed a green at the ninth, but he saved it from a bogey, which eventually surged him from 67th spot to a tie for the fourth.
Commenting on his motives Garcia said, “I just wanted to go out there and shoot decent for two or three under and make sure I could be here for the weekend. I started good, I felt good on the range, I felt comfortable and felt good on the putting green.
As the round started, I was getting more and more confident. To tell you the truth it was 65 but it wasn't the lowest I could have shot today."
Garcia recorded the lowest score of his year against strong winds prevailing on the Victoria Golf Club. The Spaniard scored 65 in the second round of the JBWere Australian Masters on Friday. The tournament has stepped into the third round through a midway
cut. Fifty-nine players missed the cut, whereas, the lowest score was attained by Sergio Garcia.
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