Course records don¿t seem to last for very long around these parts. On the fourth and final day of the WGC - American Express Championship, European Ryder Cup star Sergio Garcia bettered the one day old record by another two shots in his round of 62 at Mount Juliet.
The 22-year-old was in blistering form, seemingly unable to put a foot wrong, as he signed off his last competitive round before heading to the Belfry in real style. Birdies were easy to come by after his initial one at the fifth. Three in a row from the seventh got the Spaniard to the turn in four-under 32.
It was on the back nine that the fireworks really started. The high point was rail-roading a 70-foot pitch-and-run shot across the par five 17th green for eagle to ensure the record was within his grasp going to the final hole. Before that, Garcia birdied all the even holes on the back nine from the 10th, then secured his par at the last for the 10-under par record.
The week started with a course record when Tiger Woods made his intentions clear from the outset with an opening 65. Woods then matched his own score the following day before his `buddy' and fellow American Scott McCarron cut another shot off the record with yesterday's 64.
There were many other contenders shooting low today, several of which, equalling McCarron's 64 from yesterday. Phil Mickelson was the first to let rip when he was seven-under for eight holes on the back nine, only to make bogey on the last for his 64 (-11).
Sweden's Niclas Fasth then charged up the leaderboard (-15) with another 64 of his own after making birdies on the last four holes. But the most remarkable start of all was made by New Zealander Michael Campbell who was six-under for his first five holes. It began with an eagle at the first when he holed his sand wedge from 108 yards then followed up with four straight birdies. Gripping stuff.
Meanwhile Woods is still keeping some distance between himself and his nearest challengers halfway through the final round. The world number one moved to 22-under after reaching the turn in three-under 33. Jerry Kelly, Vijay Singh and Retief Goosen were all three adrift with the back nine still to play.
Padraig harrington was two-under for his round (-12 overall) with to holes to play.