Rory McIlroy at HSBC Champions 2015: Friday Leaderboard Score and Reaction
Rory McIlroy fell of the pace at the 2015 HSBC Champions on Friday as he could only shoot a level-par second-round 72 to remain on four under par.
With clubhouse leader Kevin Kisner 10 shots clear on 14 under, the Race to Dubai leader is going to have to produce something magical over the weekend if he is to win at the Sheshan International Golf Club in Shanghai.
Here is McIlroy's scorecard from the second day of action when a poor back nine proved his downfall:
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| Par | 4 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 36 |
| Score | 4 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 34 |
| Overall | -4 | -4 | -5 | -5 | -6 | -6 | -5 | -6 | -6 | -6 |
| Par | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 36 |
| Score | 4 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 38 |
| Overall | -6 | -5 | -6 | -5 | -5 | -5 | -4 | -4 | -4 | -4 |
A decent opening-round 68 saw McIlroy come into Friday's action five shots back from overnight leader Branden Grace.
He made early moves on the front nine as he birdied the third and the fifth to go to six under par, and he continued to look impressive from tee to green.
However, he handed a shot back on the par-four seventh as he found the trees and was forced to play out sideways, leaving him a monster of a par putt.
Another birdie at the par-five eighth after fine approach play saw him back to six under and he reached the turn in a very respectable 34.
The back nine, though, proved a challenge for the 26-year-old. His only birdie came on the par-three 12th after a fantastic tee shot, per the PGA Tour:
Bogeys at the 11th, 13th and 16th made for a frustrating day's play for McIlroy as he fell further back from those making gains at the top of the leaderboard.
Similarly damaging was the world No. 3's inability to make birdie on either of the par fives on the back nine.
He picked up shots on 14 and 18 on Day 1 but was unable to produce a four on either hole on Friday.
In fact, he had to scramble to just make par on the final hole. Going for the green in two from the rough on the 18th he fired his approach into the water.
McIlroy was able to get up and down in decent fashion having taken a drop, but it was far from the ideal finish to a topsy-turvy round.
The Northern Irishman's preparations for the HSBC Champions were not ideal as he was struck down with food poisoning and lost 10 pounds ahead of the opening round, per BBC Sport.
His Day 1 score was very impressive considering, but he will have been frustrated with making no further gains on Friday.
The weekend beckons and it would be foolish to rule McIlroy out of contention given his immense ability.
But he will have to produce something truly special if he is to make a run for the title on Saturday and Sunday.
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