Anthony Kim set a Masters record by carding 11 birdies in a round of 65 which catapulted the United States star into contention on day two at Augusta.
Following a disappointing 75, he was a man transformed on Friday in beating Nick Price's 10 birdies back in 1986.
Kim, 23, said: "I really don't know what happened. The putter got hot and my confidence got a little bigger every hole. I made some big putts.
"When the putter is hot, nothing really gets in your way. It's special."
The Californian, a Ryder Cup winner last year - when he also came seventh in The Open - made an uncertain Masters debut on Thursday but sprang into life on Friday.
He was out in 34, two under par, and refused to be bowed by a double bogey at the 10th as he made four birdies in a row from the 12th and another at the last.
"I just tried to play smart," Kim said. "I'm getting the speed of the greens better. At the same time the greens are going to be different on the weekend so it's still going to be tough.
"Under these tough conditions I feel I played pretty well. After the double-bogey on 10 I calmed my nerves and said to myself just keep playing and hitting good shots and the putts will go in.
"It's not all there yet but I'm hanging in there, I'm holing some good putts and if I keep doing that I like my chances."
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