Ireland’s Shane Lowry shot his best score in 18 months with a blistering round of an eight-under par 64 on day two of the BMW Masters in Shanghai.

Lowry birdied four holes in succession 13th hole and less than a fortnight after capturing the Portugal Masters when he became only the second player in the history of the European Tour to taste success as an amateur and also as a professional.

The 25-year old’s Shanghai scorcher is a best round since he shot a course record 63 in last year’s Iberdrola Open in Majorca and at the end of the round the Irishman was sharing third place with Sweden’s Robert Karlsson who also shot a 64, and withe pair trailing five behind Sweden’s Peter Hanson, the third player on day two to sign for a 64.

Shane Lowry, with the backdrop of the on-course Crowne Plaza Hotel, driving his way to a 64 on day two of the BMW Masters. (Photo – www.golffile.ie)

“It was a pretty decent round and I just played lovely,” Lowry said.

“I also played really well yesterday but just got off to an awful start with a triple bogey on the third hole but I managed to get it back early today and then go on to post a good number, and now I’m in a good position going into the weekend.

“My ball-striking was very good today and I hit it in there almost every hole.  Four of those were stiff and I didn’t even have to line upof the putts, so that is always a help.

“Of course, my confidence is high after winning in Portugal and while I did do a bit too much celebrating, I came here to Shanghai with a lot of confidence and it was good to get yesterday’s round of 72 out the way.”

Lowry last fortnight ended a three-year winless drought since the amazing europhia of capturing the 2009 Irish Open in front of some amazing home support at Baltray.

Now he has put himself in contention for a third victory with this round of 64.

“I’m still on a high after Vilamoura,” added Lowry.

“It was great to get my first win and, as I said earlier, I probably did too much celebrating, but there’s so many hard times in golf that you have to celebrate your good times.

“My friends met me at the airport in Dublin when I got home, and we had a night out, and it was good, the celebrations were good.  They also threw a party for me at Carton House Golf Clu which was nice, as well.”