Saturday 3 March 2018 22:38, UK
Shubhankar Sharma upstaged the world's highest-ranked players to take a two -shot lead into the weekend at the WGC-Mexico Championship.
The Race to Dubai leader continued his flying start to 2018 by following his opening-round 65 with a five-under 66 at Chapultepec Golf Club to move top of the leaderboard on 11 under.
Sergio Garcia fired a joint-low round-of-the-day 65 to join Xander Schauffele and Rafa Cabrera Bello in a share of second, with defending champion Dustin Johnson four off the pace after a five-under 66.
"I'm really happy and I couldn't have been in a better position," Sharma told Sky Sports. "I just kept the ball in play all day and it was great to finish with three birdies in a row."
Beginning the day two strokes off the pace, Sharma drove the par-four opening green and nudged in the close-range eagle putt but carded three-putt bogeys on his next two holes.
Sharma rolled in a 10-foot gain at the 11th and drained a 25-footer at the par-four next, before pulling clear of the chasing pack by birdieing his final three holes.
Schauffele briefly topped the leaderboard on his way to a bogey-free 68, as Garcia closed his blemish-free card with a 15-foot gain and Cabrera Bello birdied four of his first six holes to also get to nine under.
Overnight leader Louis Oosthuizen posted a level-par 71 to sit in the seven-man group on seven under that also includes Johnson, Bubba Watson and Brian Harman, with Jordan Spieth in the group six strokes back.
Tyrrell Hatton leads the British interest and is tied-20th after a three-under 68, as Chris Paisley slipped down the leaderboard with five consecutive bogeys on his way to a four-over 75.
Watch the WGC-Mexico Championship throughout the week live on Sky Sports. Live coverage continues on Saturday from 5pm on Sky Sports Golf.
