Rory McIlroy yesterday struggled to card an even-par 72 in the second round of the WGC-HSBC Champions in Shanghai to fall 10 shots behind leader Kevin Kisner.
The world No. 3 was not the only superstar to find scoring difficult as the wind picked up at the 7,200-yard par-72 Sheshan Golf Club in Shanghai.
McIlroy’s playing partners and fellow top-10 ranked players Dustin Johnson and Rickie Fowler carded 72 and 71 respectively.
Photo: AFP
“I didn’t play very well today,” the Northern Irishman said.
“I was just a bit flat out there. So, yeah, left myself a lot to do over the weekend, but hopefully I can shoot a couple of good scores,” he added.
The scoreboard had been dominated by rounds in the 60s on Thursday, but only 16 of the elite 78-player field managed to crack 70 on the second day.
“I’ve shot 63 around here before,” said McIlroy, who admitted he still was not 100 percent after a bout of food poisoning earlier in the week.
“No reason why I can’t go out and shoot a score like that over the weekend and get myself somewhat back in the tournament,” McIlroy added.
World No. 2 and double major winner Jordan Spieth showed he was human in a year when he almost conquered all, with three consecutive bogeys from the 11th. It was his second worst scoring run of this year after going bogey-bogey-double bogey on his first three holes in the PGA Tour’s Barclays way back in August.
“I hit some shots that I was very shocked with today,” Spieth said. “I felt like I was very lazy in my routine and it bit me with three unforced errors in a row on the back nine there.”
A birdie four at the 18th gave some cheer to the 22-year-old, who finished with an even-par 72 to stay at four-under for the tournament and in a 10-man tie for 27th beside McIlroy.
Defending champion and world No. 4 Bubba Watson lost ground with a 73, bogeying the 18th after finding the greenside lake and is a shot further back at three-under.
Kisner followed up his opening day 64 with a 66 to lie at 14-under-par, remarkable scoring for the 31-year-old US golfer who did not practice at all before Thursday because of a bad back. It surprised even him.
“It’s beyond my expectations,” Kisner said. “I had no expectations coming in. So it’s been good. I’m making a lot of putts and that’s fun.”
US-based Scotsman Russell Knox stands alone in second place on 12-under-par after a best-of-the-day 65 in his first World Golf Championships event.
Overnight leader Branden Grace found it hard to follow his stunning opening 63, managing only a 71 to fall four shots behind Kisner at 10-under-par.
“It was tough,” the South African said. “Most of these holes are tree-lined, so it’s tough to really trust the wind.”
Local hero Li Haotong continued to thrill his legions of Chinese fans with a three-under 69 and a share of fourth place at nine-under for the tournament, level with US Ryder Cup star Patrick Reed.
“It’s a pretty good start on the first five holes to make three birdies,” said 20-year-old Li, who got off to a flyer and at one stage yesterday was atop the leaderboard. “It was very cool, a lot of fun to see my name up there on the leaderboards around the course. I missed some chances, but [the] last hole was a very important up-and-down for bogey.”
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