Reigning U.S. Open champion, Rory McIlroy remained in the back seat after failing to pick-up any ground on his rivals on day two of the Shui On Land China Golf Challenge.

Ian Poulter continues to lead way by a stroke from World No. 2 Lee Westwood after now playing four holes of the unique made-for-TV event that involves playing two to three holes on seven different Chinese golf courses over seven days.

Day two involved being in Zhengzhou where Westwood birdied hole three of the 18-hole tournament and finished the day level with China No. 1 Liang Wen-chong on even-par.

McIlroy, who had started in Shanghai on Monday with a triple bogey and a bogey, remained at four-over par after a birdie and a bogey at the new Jinsha Lake Golf Club.

Ian Poulter 'texting' as he does aboard the flight winging players around China for the 2011 China Golf Challenge. (Photo - China Golf Challenge)

The four are travelling about the world’s most populus nation courtesy of a  private jet.

Then on arrival for day two they were driven in Rolls-Royce’s to a lavish grand opening  broadcast live on TV in the capital of Henan province.

Poulter and McIlroy were then cheered and mobbed like rock stars as the practised on the driving range before the Englishman held his lead at one-under with pars at the 554-yard par-five and the 408-yard par-four.

“I played four good holes, so I’m still leading and it feels good,” said Poulter.

“They’re very excited about their golf over here in China and we had good fun on the range Rory was at one end and I was at the other, and we ended up hitting shots and trying to get each group of fans to cheer louder than the other.”

The 35-year-old also praised the host venue, which presented one of its new golf villas to Westwood during the opening ceremony and also organised two hole-in-one challenges, including one for a BMW.

“It was interesting to arrive and go straight on stage and be on live television. It showed they really appreciated us coming and we’re very honoured to be given that kind of ovation,” Poulter added.

Rory McIlroy with China No. 1 Liang Wen-chong. (Photo - China Golf Challenge.)

“They love golf in China. They’ve got a great facility here at Jinsha Lake and I think the course looks very, very good. We only played four holes, but you can see it’s going to be a spectacular layout.”

Westwood, who started the day one-over, hit a sand-wedge approach to four feet to birdie the day’s opening hole and cut a happy figure after drawing closer to his compatriot after a lively second day.

“Rory is a bit of a rock star and Ian sort of likes that as well, so it was fun being on the driving range and creating some noise,” said the former world number one, who has 22 European Tour titles and won twice in Asia earlier this year.

“Coming and playing in China continually amazes me, the appetite for golf. It’s incredible. You visit cities you’ve never heard of and they have eight, nine, 10 million people, something like London. It really is an incredible country.”

The players were flying to Beijing for day three of the event that involves playing two holes each at the Topwin Golf and Country Club and the Jade Island International Golf Club on Wednesday.

They then fly to Dalian, where they will play at the 36-hole Red Flag Valley on Thursday.

* Special thanks to John Higginson, Shui On Land China Golf Challenge.