• WGC-HSBC Championship, Round Two

Westwood & Rory boost hopes of catching Donald

Rory McIlroy plays his way out of trouble © Getty Images

Enlarge

Related Links

• News: Round One: McIlroy off to shaky start in Shanghai
  
• Profile: Keegan Bradley | Paul Casey | Simon Dyson | Graeme McDowell | Rory McIlroy | Justin Rose

Leaderboard

Lee Westwood and Rory McIlroy both made strides on day two at the WGC-HSBC Champions in Shanghai, boosting their pursuit of Luke Donald at the top of the Race to Dubai standings.

World No. 1 Donald is not at the tournament - which has a first prize of €800,000 - as his wife is due to give birth, leaving the door open for those hunting him down. McIlroy is currently second in the Race to Dubai, €1.3 million behind Donald, while Westwood is fifth, nearly €2m behind.

Westwood is the better-placed of the British duo at seven-under - four off the lead - having fired a round of 68 on Friday. He had two birdies on the front nine and three after the turn, with a bogey at 10 - he also dropped a shot there on Thursday - the only stain on his card.

McIlroy, watched by girlfriend Caroline Wozniacki, is at five-under following an eventful - yet patchy - round. He fired seven birdies in all, with five coming on the front nine, but also four bogeys as his putting let down an otherwise excellent performance from tee to green. McIlroy is joined at five-under by Masters winner Charl Schwartzel, the man one place behind him in the Race to Dubai - so the Ulsterman will do well to look over his shoulder, as well as towards Donald.

Sweden's Fredrik Jacobson stormed to the top with a brilliant six-under 66, surpassing his effort from day one to take him to 11-under for the tournament. Four birdies in the opening seven holes paved the way for Jacobson to move past overnight leader Keegan Bradley, who is now third at nine-under.

The round of the day, though, undoubtedly went to Louis Oosthuizen who began with a flurry, clinching nine birdies en route to a scintillating 63. The South African, who won the Open Championship in 2010, finds himself second, level with Adam Scott.

Simon Dyson and Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell each shot a solid 69 for the second consecutive day to remain within striking distance of the leader.

Englishman Justin Rose finished alongside the pair on six-under, but was left to rue a missed opportunity after allowing two bogeys to creep into his game on the back nine, while compatriot Paul Casey launched himself into fifth place with a 66.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.