Spain’s Sergio Garcia has celebrated his engagement with a career low score of 61 to storm to a three shot lead on day two of the WGC – Bridgestone Invitational in Akron, Ohio.
Garcia birdied his closing eight holes in a nine-under par 61 and in a round that included just 23 putts, and including just one putt over holes eight to 18.
Garcia’s effort also equaled the Firestone Country Club course record that was enjoyed by fellow Spaniard Jose Maria Olazabal he established on route to a massive 12-shot victory in 1990.
It is the 34-year old Garcia’s lowest score on the PGA Tour and a stroke better than the 62 he shot in the 1999 Bryon Nelson Championship and two shots fewer than a pair of 62s also on the European Tour that include a course record 62 in the 2002 WGC – American Express Championship at Mt. Juliet in Ireland.
Sergio GARCIA takes the lead with a score of -11 with a round of 9 pars and 9 birdies to equal the course record of 61 during Friday’s Round 2 of the WGC Bridgestone Invitational, held at the Firestone Country Club, Akron, Ohio.: Picture Eoin Clarke, www.golffile.ie: 1st August 2014
Garcia also signed for a 62 in the 1999 Standard Life Loch Lomond.
Naturally, Garcia ranked today’s effort as his best-ever and top in his career.
“This is my best round ever in a tournament, so I rank it Number One,” he said smiling.
“It was just one of those days that you love and you enjoy and you wish there was no end. It wasn’t as though I was in the zone and the only thing I can tell you is I was feeling very comfortable, and I was also very calm.
“I could see what I wanted to do pretty much almost with every shot. And there I could see the lines of the putts quite well.
Sergio Garcia celebrates his engagement with Katarina Boehm with a blistering career low and equal Firestone course record.
“There were a couple of tricky ones that I was able to sink because I was feeling so comfortable. I was able to trust my reads and hit good putts.
“So I don’t know if I was in the zone or what it was, but the only thing I can tell you is I was feeling very comfortable and very calm.”
And helping celebrate his Firestone sizzler was fiancee Katharina Boehm who has been by the golfer’s side.
Last December, Garcia ended a yearlong winless drought capturing the Asian Tour season-ending Thailand Golf Championship and with Boehm acting as caddy.
However Boehm went out on a high and with the perfect ‘one for one’ winning record by then duly sacking Garcia and with regular caddy Neil Wallace returning to act as Garcia’s regular caddie.
Boehm confirmed her engagement by proudly showing off her ring.
