Garcia leads drizzly BMW Masters by 1 stroke

Ryder Cup star Sergio Garcia made the ideal start to the BMW Masters in Shanghai as he looked to seize his last chance to win on the European Tour this year.

A birdie on the 15th repaired a few of the damage but a second round of 71 left Garcia nine under par and joint second with Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee, three behind the in-form Bjerregaard, w ho carded a second consecutive 66.

However, the 35-year-old Spaniard was 11th in the WGC-HSBC Champions in Shanghai last week and continued that good form across the city at Lake Malaren with nine birdies and one bogey in an opening 64, matching his final round from Switzerland.

“But I thought it was a good bit tougher than yesterday with the wind up”.

Fisher, who had six birdies and no bogeys in his round of 66, nearly didn’t play this week after receiving only a 10-day visa from the Chinese government before last week’s HSBC Champions in Shanghai.

England’s Ross Fisher, who lost out in a three-man play-off here 12 months ago, was alongside Jaidee on nine under with four holes to play, with compatriot Ian Poulter eight under after a second successive 68. “He just missed out by an inch for his eighth and I was really hoping that would go in”.

Both need good weeks if they are to advance to the Dubai World Championship next week Fraser likely to get there if he maintains his current position this week but Hend needing something special over the weekend.

“I’m just going to try and do the same as last week, knuckle down and work hard and hopefully can have another good week this week”.

“It was nice in Hong Kong to prove to myself and to everyone else that I can still compete up there”.

World number three Rory McIlroy would have been an interested spectator as the third event of the European Tour’s Final Series got under way in China during the early hours of this morning.

“I am looking forward to coming to Abu Dhabi, especially after Rickie told me about what a fantastic event it is”, Spieth said.

England’s Danny Willett is second in the standings, Ireland’s Shane Lowry third and South African Louis Oosthuizen fourth but all three struggled to keep pace with Garcia on Thursday’s opening day.