He had been on for a 59 before completing his final hole in four.

Put to him that he had equalled DP World Tour records for the most birdies made in one round and the most consecutive birdies, Wallace told Sky Sports: “Equalled? Didn’t get it!

“What a day, amazing day. I just tried my hardest to get myself back into the tournament, so I’m really happy I’ve been able to do that and played great.

“At the end there, I didn’t even think it was for a 59, honestly. I think it helped me a little bit.

“I just played really nice coming down the stretch. Just wanted to keep getting one more if I could and I managed to do that.”

Regarding the potential 59, he added: “Yeah, kind of gutted now actually a little bit! Great opportunity to do it.

“I’ve done it at Moorpark on the West Course which is only a par 68, but to do it out there would have been really special today. Ball in hand helps. I had a couple good lies for up-and-down, but it was fantastic and a good effort.”

At the point that he finished, Wallace – 16 under overall – was two shots clear of nearest rival Nicolai Hojgaard of Denmark.

Rory McIlroy hit a seven under 65 to leave in tied in 19 nine shots off leader Wallace. McIlroy had a bogey free round hitting birdies on the second, third, twelfth, fourteenth and the seventeenth before hitting an eagle on the eighteenth to leave him on eight under overall.

Shane Lowry had a mixed round three. Lowry hit bogey on the sixth following it up with a birdie on the seventh but hit another bogey on the eighth. He hit another birdie on the tenth but hit his third bogey on the fourteenth. Like McIlroy, Lowry hit an eagle on the eighteenth to finish his round one under  71 to leave him tied in 27 on six under.