World No. 1 Tiger Woods warmed up for an eighth WGC – Bridgestone Invitational triumph with a blistering joint career best 61 on day two of the event in Akron, Ohio.

Woods left his rivals choking in his dust as he burned up the Firestone course and finish seven shots in front of the field and with less than a week to the final Major of the year.

The World No. 1 got off to a sizzling start going birdie, eagle and birdie coming from two behind to be quickly two in front.

Tiger Woods shoots career equal best of 61 on day two of Bridgestone Invitational. (Photo – Eoin Clarke/www.golffile.ie)

Woods then birdied the seventh before picking up four birdies in succession from the 10^th hole to move to nine under par on the par 70 Ohio layout.

However Woods was left ruing a first-ever PGA career 59 when he played the last five holes in level par.

Woods looked headed for a bogey at the last after a wild drive left and then an even wilder second shot right that came to rest behind a greenside grandstand.

However Woods was given relief and then played a wedge to the back of the green and remarkably holed the 22 feet par putt to equal his own Firestone course record.

Woods score was five shots fewer than fellow American’ John Merrick’s round of 66 while the average score of the other 72 players was 71.1 and 10.1 shots more than Woods.

In all, Woods had just 22 putts.

And while Woods shot a 59 in 1997 while playing a social round against Mark O’Meara at Isleworth ahead of his first Majors success at Augusta, it is the fourth time in Woods Tour career he has shot 61.

He said:  “It would have been nice to shoot a 59 but a 61 is not too bad.  So I’m not bummed.”

“But then I’m not disappointed because I certainly had a lot of control of the ball today from tee to green.

“Scores like I had don’t happen every day but when they do it’s fun when it all comes together and you can take advantage of it, and especially on a golf course like this as this is not an easy golf course.

“So I’m very happy to be able to post a score like that.  I just kept thinking to myself, let’s just keep increasing this lead, and now I’m seven in front so that’s not too bad with two days to go.”

Woods other rounds of 61 include a seccond round 61 on route to finishing T2nd in the 2005 Buick Open and also a second round 61 on his way to victory in the 2000 WGC – Bridgestone Invitational.

As well, Woods shot a first-ever 61 on the first day in finishing T7th in the 1999 EDS Byron Nelson Classic.

Defending Bridgestone champion, Keegan Bradley (68) and England’s Chris Wood (68) are next best at six under par.