The former world No.2, who has slumped to No.70 nearing the end of a lean year, made light of fierce winds to shoot a six-under-par 65 at Victoria Golf Club in Friday's second round.
It was remarkable, both because the conditions left most of his rivals struggling, and because he had scraped his way to a two-over 73 in much kinder weather in the opening round.
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It left him at four under at the tournament midpoint, well-placed to contend over the weekend for what would be his first title in two years.
But Garcia said that after a year of erratic form, he was not ready to claim his six-birdie, no-bogey second round as evidence that his game had turned the corner.
"I think that's going too far ahead," Garcia said.
"I think that it's slowly getting better, but I can go out there tomorrow and shoot 75."
He said the bi-polar nature of his first two rounds had been typical.
"It sums up my golf at the moment, some rounds are spectacular and some rounds are not that great."
But the Spaniard is at least feeling better about his game than he did during August's US PGA, when he exploded in a fit of fury, laying into a bunker with his club, as built-up frustrations spilled over when he failed to escape the trap.
Australian Masters
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