McIlroy moves clear of Westwood

SECOND ROUND LEADERBOARD:
-9 C Schwartzel (SA), G Bourdy (Fra), RJ Derksen (Ned), W-C Liang (Chn)
-8 R Sabbatini (SA), C Phadungsil (Tha) -7 YE Yang (Kor), D Dixon (Eng), S Strange (Aus), W-T Lin (Tpe), D Chia (Mas) Selected others: -6 R McIlroy (NI), I Poulter (Eng)-5 S Dyson (Eng), D Howell (Eng), G McDowell (NI) -4 D Clarke (NI), L Westwood (Eng)

Rory McIlroy is two clear of European rankings rival Lee Westwood after the second round of the Hong Kong Open.

McIlroy, who went into the tournament £47,000 behind Westwood at the top of the Race to Dubai list, shot 68.

He is on six under, three shots behind Gregory Bourdy, Robert-Jan Derksen, Wen-chong Liang and Charl Schwartzel, who are in a four-way tie for the lead.

David Dixon is the leading Englishman in the field, one shot off the lead after carding 69 on Friday.

Westwood, who shot a second-round 70, has missed just three greens in regulation after two rounds but has struggled with his putting.

"I can't pick a line, I can't get the speed. I'm just at a massive disadvantage with it being my first time here," said the Englishman.

"I don't know how Lee finished - I am worried about the tournament and not him"

"I haven't putted on greens like this for a long time. They are as grainy as I have seen for a long time. It's something you have to get used to."

Westwood added that he was concentrating solely on his own performance in the last tournament before the season-ending Dubai World Championship.

"I have not paid any attention to Rory," added Westwood. "I am just five off the lead and that's all I can focus on."

McIlroy finished second at Fanling last year and wants to go one better this year.

"I don't know how Lee finished," he said. "I am worried about the tournament and not him.

"There are two rounds to go and I will think about next week whenever I finish.

"I am only three behind. I am right in it but I can get myself right in it if I shoot a good front nine on Saturday, I can put pressure on the leaders with a fast start."

Westwood currently leads McIlroy in the battle for the $1.5m bonus on offer for Europe's number one at the season-ending Dubai World Championship.

The top 60 earners on the European Tour after this week in Hong Kong will take part in the $7.5m championship in Dubai starting on 19 November.

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Will McIlroy finish higher than Westwood?

Meanwhile, Frenchman Bourdy might have led outright but dropped his third shot of the day at the last and had to settle for a round of 67.

"It was a good day. I was consistent but made a double bogey on the eighth and bogey on the 18th which was a shame with three putts," said Bourdy.

"But my game was good and I am confident for the weekend. There are plenty of positives to take into the last two rounds and if I keep playing like this I will be OK on Sunday."

Derksen (68) finished with back-to-back bogeys, while China's Liang boosted his slender hopes of winning the Asian Tour Order of Merit with a bogey-free five-under-par 65.

Liang, runner-up at the Singapore Open, currently occupies the 60th and final qualifying spot for the Dubai World Championship.

Bourdy and Derksen must finish at least second in Hong Kong to stand a chance of heading to the showpiece event.

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