AKRON, Ohio — Sergio Garcia didn’t think there was anything special about his golf at the Bridgestone Invitational, at least for nine holes.

He missed a few fairways and a few good birdie chances. He got careless with his swing and had to scramble for par. He was five shots out of the lead in the Bridgestone Invitational, not the worst place to be though wanting to be a little better.

The next two hours changed everything.

“A dream back nine,” Garcia said. “I just started hitting good shots, rolling the putts in, and everything seemed to happen. I was just enjoying it as much as I could.”

Garcia one-putted his last 11 holes. He made birdie on his last seven holes.

When it was over — as much as Garcia hated to see it end — the Spaniard had the best round of his career. He shot a 9-under 61, tying the course record shared by Tiger Woods (twice) and Jose Maria Olazabal, and it gave Garcia a three-shot lead going into the weekend.

“Just one of those moments that you love and you enjoy, and you wish there were no end,” he said.

Woods shot a 61 in the second round last year, and in the second round of 2000. Olazabal had his 61 in 1990, when this was called the World Series of Golf.

Garcia joined some elite company.