Sergio Garcia three shots off lead in Shanghai — BMW Masters

Lucas Bjerregaard sank seven birdies to shoot a 6-under 66 in the second round of the BMW Masters and open up a three-stroke lead on Friday.

Fraser ended his round by holing a 231-yard shot for eagle on the par-4 18th hole to become the first player at the tournament to break 30 on either the front or back nine, according to the European Tour.

Former US Open champion Rose, who won in Hong Kong on his last appearance, said: “Last year I started on the back nine and I was four over through four holes”.

Overnight leader Garcia recovered well for a one-under 71 and nine-under 135 total after going bogey, double bogey from the 12th.

Playing on a cold, windy day in Shanghai, Garcia carded a bogey on the 12th hole and compounded his problem on No. 13 with a shot into a water hazard.

That meant Garcia was suddenly four behind the in-form Bjerregaard, who had carded a second consecutive 66 to finish 12 under par – three clear of Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee, who was also safely in the clubhouse after a 68.

It was a much better finish than he had at the Alfred Dunhill Championship in South Africa last December when he played in the final group on Sunday but collapsed with a 17-over 89 in the final round.

“I was cheering him on”, Bjerregaard said. “A few of the holes were playing really long”. “There were times when I was thinking I might be booking a flight to go home”. In the playoff, the Swede hit his tee shot straight down the fairway for an easy approach to the pin and a 15-foot birdie putt for victory. “That’s why the key, I think, is I play my irons really well”, Jaidee, 46, said. “It hurts, but at the same time, I know what I’m working on right now is definitely the right thing because I’m moving in the right direction”.

McIlroy’s closest rival on the Race to Dubai standings ahead of next week’s season-ending DP World Tour Championship is Danny Willett, but the Englishman is now 10 shots off the pace in Shanghai after notching a third round 70.

After starting at the 10th, Garcia picked up shots on four of his first five holes and then responded to a bogey on 17 with another streak of birdies – registering five in seven holes from the first.