SHANE LOWRY REMAINS in contention after the second round of the WGC-HSBC Champions this morning.
The Offaly man signed for 10-under overall to share fourth with and American Jason Dufner.
South African Louis Oosthuizen left Adam Scott and the field in his wake with a 63 meanwhile.
Oosthuizen’s nine-under-par round lifted him to 16-under overall – a commanding five-shot lead over joint overnight leader Scott of Australia and fellow South African Ernie Els.
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Oosthuizen’s round, including eight birdies and an eagle at the par-five seventh, was a course record and puts him in pole position to beat world number one Rory McIlroy in the Race to Dubai at the halfway mark of the tournament.
Despite his advantage, the 2010 British Open champion is not taking anything for granted.
“Looking at the leaderboard, there’s so many great players up there. It’s far from over. It was probably the same at The Open,” the world number 11 said.
“With this tournament I’m in a great position to win it, but it’s not even crossed my mind at the moment. There’s still a lot of golf to be played, and I need to put myself in a great position going down the back nine on Sunday.”
The 30-year-old holed a 50-foot putt for his eagle and then nailed a 30-foot putt at the next hole for birdie at Mission Hills in China on Friday. Scott started on fire with four birdies in the opening seven holes but such was the quality of Oosthuizen’s round he slipped six shots back after bogeys at the 12th and 13th before birdies on 15 and 16.
British Open champion Els was on track for a fabled 59 after seven birdies on the front nine but could manage only two more on the run home to join Oosthuizen with the course record, and Scott in a tie for second.
“I obviously had a good start and all of that, but I wish I can always play like that,” said Els.
Two-time winner Phil Mickelson slipped back to nine-under with a double-bogey at the last following a pair of eagles on six and 14 in his first appearance since the Ryder Cup.
Reigning champion Martin Kaymer of Germany is in the hunt at seven-under alongside last week’s BMW Masters winner Peter Hanson, who carded a 71.
Shane Lowry still in the hunt but hot Oosthuizen takes commanding lead
SHANE LOWRY REMAINS in contention after the second round of the WGC-HSBC Champions this morning.
The Offaly man signed for 10-under overall to share fourth with and American Jason Dufner.
South African Louis Oosthuizen left Adam Scott and the field in his wake with a 63 meanwhile.
Oosthuizen’s nine-under-par round lifted him to 16-under overall – a commanding five-shot lead over joint overnight leader Scott of Australia and fellow South African Ernie Els.
Oosthuizen’s round, including eight birdies and an eagle at the par-five seventh, was a course record and puts him in pole position to beat world number one Rory McIlroy in the Race to Dubai at the halfway mark of the tournament.
Despite his advantage, the 2010 British Open champion is not taking anything for granted.
“Looking at the leaderboard, there’s so many great players up there. It’s far from over. It was probably the same at The Open,” the world number 11 said.
“With this tournament I’m in a great position to win it, but it’s not even crossed my mind at the moment. There’s still a lot of golf to be played, and I need to put myself in a great position going down the back nine on Sunday.”
The 30-year-old holed a 50-foot putt for his eagle and then nailed a 30-foot putt at the next hole for birdie at Mission Hills in China on Friday. Scott started on fire with four birdies in the opening seven holes but such was the quality of Oosthuizen’s round he slipped six shots back after bogeys at the 12th and 13th before birdies on 15 and 16.
British Open champion Els was on track for a fabled 59 after seven birdies on the front nine but could manage only two more on the run home to join Oosthuizen with the course record, and Scott in a tie for second.
“I obviously had a good start and all of that, but I wish I can always play like that,” said Els.
Two-time winner Phil Mickelson slipped back to nine-under with a double-bogey at the last following a pair of eagles on six and 14 in his first appearance since the Ryder Cup.
Reigning champion Martin Kaymer of Germany is in the hunt at seven-under alongside last week’s BMW Masters winner Peter Hanson, who carded a 71.
Freak injury could end Graeme McDowell’s season
Late slip sees Shane Lowry one shot off the lead at Champions event in China
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Adam Scott All Sports English Ernie Els European Tour Golf Jason Dufner Louis Oosthuizen PGA Tour Phil Mickelson Review Shane Lowry WGC- HSBC Champions