Graeme McDowell is just two rounds away from a first WGC title success after a second consecutive round of 67 saw him move three shots clear of his rivals at the halfway stage of the WGC – HSBC Champions.
The Northern Irishman was outstanding with the putter, making several clutch putts for par in a bogey-free effort that contained five birdies and took him to ten under par.
Poulter birdied four of his last five holes at Sheshan International to snatch second place, with Masters Tournament winner Bubba Watson and Japan’s Hiroshi Iwata tied for third on six under.
Having started the day two clear, McDowell birdied the second from five feet and converted from more than double that distance at the next.
Australian Adam Scott closed the gap to one with four birdies in his first six holes, only for the World Number Two’s round to unravel in spectacular style.
The former Masters Tournament winner twice had to take penalty drops as he ran up a quadruple bogey nine at the eighth, and he went from sand to water at the next as a double bogey six saw him turn in 38, although it was to Scott’s credit that he recovered to post a 72 and two under halfway total.
McDowell pitched to six feet at the eighth for another gain, but had to hole from 12 feet at the next for par.
He then putted in from off the green at the 11th to keep his card clean, made a 15 footer at the 14th for birdie and fired to within five feet of the pin at the par three next for his final gain of the day.
“The putter was fairly hot today,” said McDowell, who at 16th on The Race to Dubai is looking to move into the top 15 and claim a share of the Bonus Pool when the Final Series reaches its climax in Dubai in a fortnight’s time.
“I didn’t play as well as I did yesterday; I missed a lot more fairways, which is a big key on this golf course. You must find fairways to have a chance out there.
“I got lucky a couple of times and I made some good saves. The greens are fantastic here at Sheshan and I managed to make some putts. It wasn’t my best ball-striking round but I hung in there and I’m right where I want to be going into the weekend.
“This event has such a good feel to it. HSBC do a good job, you always get good support, there’s a great atmosphere and the golf course is so well presented.
“The WGCs are a special tier of events and this has always been one that I’ve had my eye on. This is a world-class field and they are bunching up behind me. I’ve just got to keep the pedal down and position myself for Sunday to have a sniff on the back nine.”
Poulter was delighted to match McDowell’s bogey-free 67 as he looks to climb into the top 60 on The Race to Dubai ahead of the DP World Tour Championship.
“That’s probably the best I’ve played all year, which is very exciting,” said Poulter, whose only top-five finish on The European Tour this season came in the same country at the Volvo China Open.
“I only missed a couple of greens. It was a little frustrating for the first 13 holes, missing chances, but I made four birdies in the last five holes so the chances started to go in at the end and I’m very happy.
“I switched to Titleist equipment two weeks ago and it’s fantastic. Obviously shooting five under today, I’m pretty happy. I think the equipment is working very well.”
Read more at http://www.europeantour.com/europeantour/season=2014/tournamentid=2014088/news/newsid=241836.html#VMcCD3t43Aqri5rY.99
