WGC-HSBC Champions: Rory McIlroy 16 behind in Shanghai as Tony Finau leads

Rory McIlroy lets go of his club after his drive at the ninth tee — Rory McIlroy faces a long two days in Shanghai in the no-cut event

WGC-HSBC Champions second-round leaderboard
-11 T Finau (US); -8 P Reed (US), T Fleetwood (Eng), J Rose (Eng); -7 X Schauffele (US); -6 P Cantlay (US).
Selected others:-5 T Pieters (Bel); -4 I Poulter (Eng); -3 P Casey (Eng), J Day (Aus); +2 B Koepka (US); +3 D Johnson (US); +5 R McIlroy (NI).
Full leaderboard

Rory McIlroy dropped 16 shots off the pace at the WGC-HSBC Champions in Shanghai after an error-ridden five-over 77 in Friday's second round.

The 29-year-old reached the turn in 35 after three birdies and two bogeys.

But he bogeyed his 10th, the first, triple bogeyed the next after twice finding water and double-bogeyed 16.

Tony Finau's 67 left the American three ahead of English duo Tommy Fleetwood (68) and Justin Rose (67) plus overnight leader Patrick Reed (72).

McIlroy's problems at his 11th, the second, came after he had hit a perfect drive that left him only a short iron into the par five.

However, the world number five's second shot flew over the green into a water hazard and after he mis-hit his chip, his ball trickled into the same hazard again.

The former world number one is in a share of 58th in the 77-man event heading into the final two days of the no-cut tournament.

McIlroy has not won since claiming the Arnold Palmer Invitational - which was his first victory since 2016 - in the United States in March.

He shared second at the Open Championship in July and claimed top-10 finishes at the final two play-off events in the US before helping Europe regain the Ryder Cup in France.

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82 comments

Why lead on McIlroy for the article? Perhaps more on Rose and Fleetwood would be more interesting.
Does the BBC treat their sport reading audience with that much contempt that they have to lead with Rory or we won't click on it?

Fleetwood and Rose 3 off the lead, Poulter and Casey (only just) in touch

But no, Rory, Rory, Rory!
McIlroy out of contention. Again.
Should be out of the headlines.

Finau leads; Ryder Cup star Fleetwood challenging; Rose seeking to go back to world no 1 - all more worthy of mention.
Anyone know how Tony Finau is getting on?

Oh, he's leading!
@1
Spot on

Why lead with a negative headline

Mcllroy's should be reported as other scores at this time
Totally agree with the majority here. They are clearly interested in golf rather than celebrity. Rose and Fleetwood have been consistently good this year and deserve to be the subject of the report. The BBC consistently choose celebrity over sport. Frustrating for true golf fans.
The Beeb could do us all (and RM) a favour by treating him like any other golfer. He may have 4 majors but that was a while ago. Give credit where it is currently due.

(This from an Ulsterman who is a RM fan).
find yourself a proper caddy you fool, not your best mate from pre school
I am sure the art of journalism is alive and well somewhere; but not here. This is about generating sufficient irritation with a headline to cause a click. BBC, whatever happened to your reporting standards? That's rhetorical question. Any attempted reply would be irritating.

Just wait until the licence fee is gone; then you'll see who, if anyone, bothers to click.
I have no idea why McIlMoaneymultimillionaire is leading the article...maybe they cant believe that his flush has bust
Two equally recurring irritants in this story:

1. The BBC's obsession with reporting Mcilory in their headline, all the time
2. The Mcilory moaners, coming out with nonsense about how rubbish he is, "hasn't played well for years" (2nd at the Open?, Qualified for Ryder Cup, despite some complaining that he was 'picked') etc

I'm sure the BBC do it deliberately just to provoke the moaning
Daft headline. Embarrassing that the BBC reports on sport like this.

The world's number 1 and 2 ranked golfers (Koepka, Johnson) both 13 and 14 shots off the leave respectively. So what?!

No, he's not had a good round, but stop trying to make him look stupid. 99% of golfers would be delighted with a 77.

Please start reporting properly otherwise people will go elsewhere...
Surely the headline should be "Fleetwood and Rose joint second"
So talented, such a shame.

Reckon all the money has dulled his appetite.
As an aside, I see it's gonna cost 20 dollars to watch Woods' & Mickelson's shindig in the sun. What on earth has happened to the game......? (well we know the answer).

Sky (or whoever is putting this farce on) couldn't pay me 20 dollars to watch it. I value 3 hours of my free time a bit higher than that.
Whoever wrote this should be sacked!

Did the person writing this even witness the play?

It's massively biased and fails to put any comment on Rose and Fleetwood’s performances

This is not just lazy journalism; it is of the lowest quality gutter press reporting.

BBC is no longer a credible sports media organisation and claiming licence fee money is claiming money under false pretence.
Whar’s going on inside Rory’s head, does anybody know? With his talent he should be able to break 72 on any course with a 1/2 set of clubs!!
That Rory obsession is getting embarassing. Fleetwood and Rose three off the lead should have been the headline. It's just bad journalism harping on and on about someone who hasn't played well for years.
@54. Posted by David Masson

Why this BBC focus on McIlroy a man who wants to play for Ireland Focus on real Brits Rose , poulter , Casey , Fleetwood

Well said David, you couldn't trust McIlroy to sit the right way up on the toilet !

Rose and Fleetwood are much better players now
typical bbc (and every other british newscast) headline - 'mcilroy nowhere!' and three paragraphs later 'but justin rose (world number three, mind you) is in contention...'