WGC-HSBC Champions: Rory McIlroy 16 behind in Shanghai as Tony Finau leads
Last updated on .From the section Golf

WGC-HSBC Champions second-round leaderboard |
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-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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Fleetwood and Rose 3 off the lead, Poulter and Casey (only just) in touch
But no, Rory, Rory, Rory!
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.
Oh, he's leading!
Spot on
Why lead with a negative headline
Mcllroy's should be reported as other scores at this time
(This from an Ulsterman who is a RM fan).
Just wait until the licence fee is gone; then you'll see who, if anyone, bothers to click.
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
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...
Reckon all the money has dulled his appetite.
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.
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.
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