World No.3 Lee Westwood flirted with membership of golf's exclusive 59 club when he produced a sparkling 12-under-par round of 60 to open up a big lead in the Thailand Golf Championships on Thursday.
The former World No. 1 led controversial American John Daly by five shots at the Amata Spring Country Club, 80-kilometres east of Bangkok, after his spectacular opening round at the Asian Tour's season ending event.
The 12-under-par total, a professional best for Westwood according to his management company, matched Liang Wenchong's Asian Tour record for lowest 18-hole score set in 2008 at the Indian Open.
The Briton rolled in a 10-foot putt on the 13th to complete a hat-trick of birdies as murmurs of a possible 59 alerted the Thai crowds who flocked to watch.
Westwood then left his birdie effort inches short on the par-four 14th before a two-putt birdie on the par five next left him within sight of the record.
The 38-year-old narrowly missed 12ft birdie putts on the 16th and par-three island green 17th to all but end his bid for golf's magic number. However, he finished strongly by holing a similar length putt for birdie at the 477-yard 18th.
Westwood's headline efforts were a boost to organisers who were hit by the withdrawal of US Open champion Rory McIlroy because of a viral illness last week.
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