Fitzpatrick alone atop Shanghai World Golf leaderboard
Matthew Fitzpatrick used a second-round 67 on Friday to sit alone in the lead in Shanghai, where he’s up one on Rory McIlroy at the World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions.
Fitzpatrick chased a 66 on Thursday with another sparkling 18 and is 11-under-par through 36 holes. He’s enjoying his stroll around Sheshan International, where shots in the rough are gobbled up by thicket-like rough.
“It’s a big key to hitting fairways around here, and if you can keep doing it, you’ll give yourself more chances,” said Fitzpatrick, who has dropped only one shot through 36 holes.
A 25-year-old from England, Fitzpatrick finished as runner-up — losing by one in each case — at the Italian Open (Oct. 14) and Scandinavian Open (Aug. 26).
McIlroy (Ireland) put together two rounds of 67 and is alone in second place, one stroke better than defending champion Xander Schauffele, Sungae Im (South Korea) and Australian Adam Scott.
First-round leader and local product Haotong Li shot even-par 72 on Friday and is three shots behind Fitzpatrick at 8-under.
Even when things began to look dire for McIlroy — he needed three tee shots at 16 and recorded a bogey — the reigning player of the year on tour found his A-game soon after. He eagled 18 thanks to a five-iron from the fairway that deadened three feet from the hole to post 67.
At 16, McIlroy tried 3-wood and then 6-iron.
“I tried to hit the same shot as yesterday, but the wind was more off the left,” McIlroy said. “I knew I had to caress one a little bit, and I caressed it dead left. Made a good five.”
Schauffele is looking to be the first player to repeat at this event since 2009 when it became the WGC. He was 1-over on the front nine.
“Happy that my feet got under me on the back nine, and just sort of had a little bit of a better time,” Schauffele said.
The top eight players on the leaderboard entering the third round are from eight different countries.
Canadian Corey Conners sits tied for 20th at 4-under. Adam Hadwin is tied for 72nd at 7-over. South Korea’s Mi Jung Hur birdied five of her first six holes on her way to a 6-under 66 and a one-stroke lead after two rounds at the Swinging Skirts in New Taipei City, Taiwan on Friday.
Canada’s Brooke Henderson shot the best round of the tournament with an 8-under 64 to move into a tie for fifth at 9-under with Australia’s Su Oh (5-under 67).
“I love seeing my name near the top of the leaderboard and trying to chase down the leaders, I was trying to go low today and make something happen,” Henderson said Friday.
The 22-year-old Canadian made six birdies and an eagle, without a single blemish on her scorecard. She sits at nine-under after 36 holes, and gave plenty of credit to her sister and caddy Brittany.
“It was a lot of fun,” she said. “I felt like Britt and I were judging the wind really well and hitting great shots, which is always great. To finish out making a few putts was really nice ... we’re always talking through all the different factors and just trying to get the right club and the right number. So I’m really grateful that I have her by my side.”