US OPEN CHAMPION Rory McIlroy shot a 3-under 69 today to increase his lead to two strokes after the second round of the Shanghai Masters.
After opening with a bogey-free 64, McIlroy struggled on the front nine, bogeying the fourth hole and dropping two strokes on the par-4 ninth to fall into a four-way tie for the lead.
The 22-year-old Holywood native recovered with four birdies on the back nine to finish at 11-under 133 on Lake Malaren’s Jack Nicklaus-designed Masters course.
Noh Seung-yul was second after a 63. The 20-year-old South Korean player birdied three of the last four holes. He began the round tied for 18th after an opening 72.
The 30 players are vying for the $2 million first prize, the richest in golf. #All the top players are getting appearance money, and last place pays $25,000. Because the International Management Group-run event isn’t sanctioned by a major tour, it doesn’t have world-ranking points.
Louis Oosthuizen (66) and Anthony Kim (68) were 8 under, and Padraig Harrington (70) and Hunter Mahan (72) were another stroke back.
Ian Poulter (71) and Robert Karlsson (69) were 6 under, and John Daly followed his opening 69 with a 70 to match Lee Westwood (70), Colin Montgomerie (69) and Masters champion Charl Schwartzel (69) at 5 under.
