Top-Scot Bob MacIntyre superbly passed no fewer than 10 Major winners as he edges closer to a Chinese victory takeaway and just be outside the top-10 heading to the weekend rounds of the WGC – HSBC Champions event in Shanghai.
MacIntyre grabbed five birdies and with just two bogeys near the end of his round of 67 for a five-under par tally.
The Oban lefty trails just six shots behind England’s Matt Fitzpatrick (67) who leads the $10.25m event at 11-under par.
World No. 2 Rory McIlroy eagled his closing hole in a score of a second straight 67 to move ominously into second place at 10-under.
Young Scot Bob MacIntyre has not overtaken no fewer than 10 Major winners as he edges closer to the front in the WGC – HSBC Champions in Shanghai (Photo – European Tour/Getty)
Three players – Aussie Adam Scott (69), South Korean Sungjae Im (69) and defending champ, Xander Schaufele (69) – share third place on nine-under par.
MacIntyre is making his debut in the event and, aside from a starting hole double-bogey on Thursday, his efforts in the Chinese financial capital have been impressive.
Currently, he’s ahead of a host of Major Champions including Phi Mickelson, Henrik Stenson, Sergio Garcia, Francesco Molinari, Patrick Reed, Shane Lowry, Danny Willett and Keegan Bradley.
And even better still, the World No. 88 ranked MacIntyre arrived in China not have teed-up since last month’s Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.
He said: “I played great today and thought I was going to be bogey-free, but let a couple slip and quite disappointed with the finish, but still sitting in a nice spot.
“The thing also is I have not touched a club the two weeks I was off, so first tee was a wee bit extra, so started with a double (first round) and now sitting here in a good position and hopefully get going on the weekend.
“The big thing this week for me has been the green. Coming from wintertime back home and where the greens are slow, so trying our best out there and greens are running about 12, so it’s not easy. But we’re getting there.
“So, it’s been a good two rounds.
“I think everyone’s dragging each other on. I’m not sure how many actually kept their card this year, but there’s a fair few of us. It’s good to see familiar faces. Not just for the competitive side in the practice rounds, but you can play with the boys. It’s been good.
“And if you had of handed me a tie for 11th after two rounds I would have taken it teeing-off yesterday, and while it was a big disappointing today, overall I’d take that.”
