Fisher hits the magic number

OLIVER FISHER admits the memory of fighting to keep his card at the Portugal Masters helped him shoot an historic round of 59.

The Englishman made 10 birdies and an eagle in his bogey-free 12-under effort to finally achieve the European Tour record on day two in Vilamoura.

There have been 10 sub-60 rounds on the PGA Tour, with Jim Furyk registering a 58 and 59.

But Fisher is the first to break the European barrier.

He said: “It feels great. I started off the round with three birdies and then kept it going.

“I’m just pleased I two-putted there from 40 feet on the last.

“It was a great day – very different to a couple of years ago on this green fighting to keep my card.

“I had that in the back of my mind thinking, ‘Things could be worse’. It was fun, I tried to enjoy it and I got over the line.”

Fisher started with three birdies and eagled the par-five fifth before further gains on the sixth and eighth.

He birdied the 10th and 11th and when he got on the green at the par-five 12th in two and made a third birdie in a row he was 10 under for the day.

The 30-year-old got up and down from the side of the driveable par-four 15th for another birdie but needed to hole a 20-footer to save par at the par-three next after leaving his tee shot short.

He got on the par-five 17th in two and another birdie meant a routine par up to seal his place in the history books.

Fisher leads on 12 under with Eddie Pepperell (66) and Lucas Herbert (67).

Ryder Cup wild-card pick Sergio Garcia is six off the pace after a 70.