GREENSBORO, North Carolina – Carl Pettersson fired a course record, nine-under-par 61 to charge three shots clear of the field early in the Wyndham Championship second round on Friday.

The North Carolina-based Swede piled up 11 birdies and two bogeys on a benign morning at Sedgefield Country Club.

Pettersson's 15-under total of 125 also equalled the record for the lowest opening 36 holes of a PGA Tour event, tying Tiger Woods (2000), Mark Calcavecchia (2001), Tom Lehman (2001) and Corey Pavin (2006).

He was three clear of American Garrett Willis (64), with Scott McCarron (64) another shot back in third place.

“I have played great for two days but on this course you can make a lot of birdies,” Pettersson told reporters.

“I thought it was going to be a low-scoring week because you have a lot of wedges, eight-irons and nine-irons into the par-fours.”

Pettersson, twice a winner on the tour, entertained thoughts of a sub-60 score after birdying the 14th to go eight-under for the round.

“I just had a brief moment thinking about it and decided to bogey the hole,” he joked of the par-five 15th.

“I could have played a safe pitch (third shot) to about 15 feet but I had momentum with me and it wasn't that hard a shot.

“I fluffed it into the bunker and then didn't get up and down but it was nice to come back with birdies on 16 and 17.”

(Editing by Tony Jimenez)