Three birdies in his first 11 holes saw defending champion Sergio Garcia storm to the top of the leaderboard during the second round of the weather-affected Andalucía Valderrama Masters hosted by the Sergio Garcia Foundation.
A series of weather delays on the first two days prevented Garcia from playing at all on Friday, and after more inclement weather disrupted the early starters again on day three, tournament director José Maria Zamora had already announced the event would be reduced to 54 holes before he began his second round on Saturday afternoon.
Home hero Garcia began the day two shots behind first-round leader Ashley Chesters after posting an opening 68 on Thursday but when he finally got back out on course on Saturday, he picked up shots at the second and third to grab a share of the lead.
And after a run of seven straight pars, Garcia rolled in from around 18 feet at the long 11th to move to six under and open up a one-shot lead.
Chesters was still on five under after beginning his second round with nine straight pars.
Spanish pair Alvaro Quiros and Gonzalo Fernández-Castaño and Scot Marc Warren set the early clubhouse target on four under par after putting the finishing touches to their second rounds on day three.
Lee Westwood, who has his son Sam on the bag this week, was another stroke back on three under after 11 holes alongside Frenchman Grégory Bourdy.
Tournament host Garcia is looking to make it a hat-trick of Andalucía Masters victories after winning the 2011 edition and repeating the trick last year.
And Europe's all-time leading Ryder Cup points scorer produced an early burst of scoring on Saturday to propel himself up the leaderboard.
The 38 year old chipped in from just off the green to pick up his first shot of the day at the second before rolling in from six feet at the third to get to five under.
And after making some good par saves, Garcia notched a birdie at the long 11th for the second time this week to take the outright lead.
