SHENZHEN, China – While Spaniards Miguel Angel Jimenez and Pablo Larrazabal were dreaming about breaking 60, the other teams were just trying to survive Friday in the World Cup of Golf.

Jimenez and Larrazabal settled for a 9-under 63, a remarkable score in the difficult foursomes format of team golf. The two-day total of 17-under 127 was still good enough for a four-shot lead over Australia (68) and first-round leader Germany (69).

Sweden (67) was five back, and the United States (69) and Ireland (68) were six off the pace of Spain, which opened with a 64 on Thursday playing the easier fourball.

“I think at one moment that maybe we could break 60,” Jimenez said. “But when those kind of thoughts come at the wrong moment – it stops the machine, you know.”

The sensational round gives Spain a strong chance to win the event, which usually goes to the team that plays best in foursomes where scores are typically higher. In foursomes, teams only play one ball and alternate the shots. Fourball is easier because each golfer plays his own ball, but the team only counts the best of the two scores on each hole.

Saturday returns to fourball with more foursomes on Sunday.

“If they (Spain) go out and play two good rounds, it's going to be very tough to beat them,” said American Brandt Snedeker, who teamed with former British Open champion Ben Curtis.

The Spanish picked up seven strokes on the front nine with five birdies and an eagle. They were 8-under after 10 holes and 9-under after 11.

Jimenez had the early touch, making a 15-foot birdie on No. 2, and a 17-footer for eagle on No. 3.

“I mean, great start!” said the 25-year-old Larrazabal, the 2008 European tour rookie of the year.

The 44-year-old Jimenez and Larrazabal were relaxed throughout the round at the Mission Hills Golf Club, located on the mainland about a 45-minute drive from Hong Kong. The round was played on a course designed by Spaniard Jose Maria Olazabal – one of 12 courses on the sprawling golf estate.

Jimenez backslapped his younger colleague repeatedly, puffed his trademark cigar and joked about relaxing after the round with a meal and a glass of wine.

“Foursomes, you know – it's the kind of thing that is very sensitive,” Jimenez said. “You need to be nice and not competitive with your partner. That is what happened today. He hit it very nice from the tee, I put it in close and he holed the putt – and vice versa.”

Spain has won the event four times, its last win coming in 1984 with Jose Maria Canizares and Jose Rivero.

The German team of Martin Kaymer and Alex Cejka – leaders at 10-under after the first round – managed a 69 with three birdies on the back nine.

The Americans got themselves back into the tournament with birdies on the last four holes. Curtis made a long putt on 15, and then 6-footers on the last three holes.

“It was a great way to finish, otherwise it could have been an ugly day and it wasn't,” Snedeker said. “We have a chance going into the weekend.”