Nov 01, 2019: Matthew Fitzpatrick will take a one shot lead into the weekend at the WGC-HSBC Champions but he will have World Number Two Rory McIlroy breathing down his neck at Sheshan International Golf Club.
Both men carded rounds of 67 on day two in Shanghai, with Fitzpatrick moving to 11 under and leading the way by one from his 2016 Ryder Cup team-mate.
The 25-year-old is looking to extend an impressive record of having won in every season since he graduated from the Qualifying School in 2014. He has four second places on the 2019 Race to Dubai and a victory on Sunday would be his first in a World Golf Championships event.
“The back nine, I putted fantastic, as good as I’ve putted all year. The rough is tough. The greens are firm, they are slopy as well. Today was definitely difficult.
“It’s where you want to be, at the top after two rounds. Obviously better to be there for four, but it’s a good start to the week. Getting a little bit more comfortable with my game than last week, so hopefully carry on over the weekend” said Fitzpatrick.
McIlroy has finished second seven times since his last European Tour victory at the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open in 2016 and was happy not to be playing catch up heading into the weekend.
“Delighted with the first two rounds. To put myself right in contention going into the weekend is something that I wanted to do.
“It’s something that I haven’t done a lot of over the last few weeks. I’ve sort of had bad starts and then clawed my way back into a good position at the end but to be right in the tournament after two days, I’m excited”, said McIlroy.
Defending champion Xander Schauffele, South Korean Sungjae Im and Australian Adam Scott were then at nine under, a shot clear of local hero Li Haotong and Frenchman Victor Perez. South Africa’s Louis Oosthuizen was at seven under, one clear of Austrian Matthias Schwab and England’s Paul Waring.
European Tour Release
