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Sergio García shot one of golf's most remarkable course records in Dubai on Friday – two eagles, nine birdies, two bogeys and a triple-bogey seven. It all added up to a second-round 64, eight under par, at the Dubai World Tour Championship and from 49th place overnight he was back in contention.
The scoring was astonishing enough, but this is the 32-year-old's first event since the Ryder Cup in September. He underwent laser surgery afterwards to correct an astigmatic eye.
"It was unbelievable, wasn't it?" García said after moving from one over par to seven under. That was one behind the joint leaders Luke Donald, Marcus Fraser and Branden Grace, all of whom were still out on the course.
An 18-foot eagle putt from just off the back of the final green made García the sixth player to hand in a 64 on the Greg Norman-designed Earth course, venue for the European Tour's season-ending showpiece for the past four years.
"I'm still kind of getting used to it," the Spaniard said of his improved eyesight. "My sight's not changed immensely, but the main reason was that with contact lenses I was feeling very uncomfortable."
He had five birdies in an outward 31, started for home with two more, bogeyed the next two, then sank a 30-foot eagle putt on the long 14th.
The tee at the 371-yard 15th had been moved up, and after driving the green García sank an eight-foot second putt for birdie, but then pushed an eight-iron into the water on the next.
With three putts, a triple bogey went on his card, but García hit back with a six-iron to four feet and then had his closing eagle after his drive had headed for the stream running down the fairway, but then hit the rocks and bounced out.
Moments earlier, the German Marcel Siem had hit his second shot into the water by the green and by taking a bogey six had to settle for a 65.
Donald led on his own overnight and birdied the 454-yard 1st, but by then Australia's Fraser had eagled the 2nd and also birdied the 3rd, 9th and 10th, while the South African Grace – seeking a sixth win of the year – packed six birdies and a bogey into his first 10 holes.
Rory McIlroy, one behind after his opening 66, birdied the long second to be part of a group one behind that, which as well as García included the Welshman Jamie Donaldson, England's Danny Willett and the Scot Richie Ramsay.
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