Sergio Muy Caliente at Firestone


Sergio Garcia was downright torrid on the back nine at Firestone's South Course Friday. The 34-year-old Spaniard set a new tournament record for the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational over nine holes, posting a whopping eight birdies on the home half for a 27 en route to a 9-under 61 and taking over the 36-hole lead in the $9 million PGA Tour event.

Garcia, an eight-time Tour winner with 11 more titles on the European Tour, opened with a lone birdie on the front nine. But on the back he was simply magical, firing a 27 and breaking the previous mark of 29 shared by Tiger Woods and Jose Maria Olazabal by two strokes. Garcia's 27 and his 61 were also personal bests.

After opening with a 68, Garcia's second-round heroics gave him a total of 11-under 129, three strokes ahead of England's Justin Rose, who's posted rounds of 65 and 67, and four over 18-hole leader Marc Leishman (69) of Australia and Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy, who's recorded a 69 and 64.

"I started hitting the ball really well on the back nine - and I really rolled it well," Garcia understatedly said during a brief TV interview. He reeled off 11 straight one-points to conclude his round, including birdies from 25 feet and 20 feet on the final two holes. "I'm just going to try to do the same on Saturday."

Garcia was thrilled with his course-record-tying 61 - a score shot twice at Firestone by Woods. "It's just one of those moments you love and you enjoy and you wish they would never end," Garcia said. "I don't even know what a 'zone' is. I was very comfortable, very calm, I could see what I wanted to do on almost every shot. I was seeing the lines on the putts quite well."

The only hole he didn't birdie on the back nine was the 11th, when he missed from 15 feet from just off the green and settled for par. "I've been fortunate to have some good rounds, but that was my best. It was very nice . . . It was a dream back nine."

Garcia has enjoyed a good year, though one that hasn't included a victory. His previous PGA Tour title came in the 2012 Wyndham Championship. In 11 starts this season he's recorded two runner-ups, two third places and seven top-10s, earning over $3.4 million.

"The whole year, it's been a solid year for me. If you look at the way I've been playing, I have a lot of high finishes," he added.

McIroy, winner of the Open Championship two weeks ago and back in action since his two-stroke victory at Royal Liverpool, was impressed with Garcia's outing. "I'll just try to have another solid round," the 25-year-old said at greenside. "If (Garcia) keeps that putting up, he'll be hard to beat."

Sharing fifth at 6-under 134 are Rickie Fowler, who's carded two straight 67s, and South African Charl Schwartzel (69). One shot further back are Patrick Reed (68) and Keegan Bradley (67).

Tied for ninth at 136 on the par-70 course are Canada's Graham DeLaet (69) and Americans Brandt Snedeker (68) and Hunter Mahan (65). Jim Furyk (68), No. 1-ranked Adam Scott (68), Thomas Bjorn (68), Henrik Stenson (66), Francesco Molinari (70) and Matt Kuchar (66) are sitting in 12th at 137.

Defending champion Woods, an eight-time winner at Firestone, followed up his opening 68 with a 71 to drop into a tie for 25th at 1-under 139. Also at that number are 2014 Masters' champion Bubba Watson and three-time winner this year, Jimmy Walker.

Phil Mickelson has posted rounds of 71 and 73 and is tied for 53rd in the no-cut invitational event.

Because of the threat of bad weather Saturday, PGA Tour officials will send the field off in threesomes off both the first and 10th tees starting at 7:00 a.m.

For complete scoring details, visit http://www.worldgolfchampionships.com/bridgestone-invitational/leaderboard.html.