Earthquake fails to topple McIlroy

RORY McILROY’S legs were shaking like jelly when a earth tremor shook Hong Kong late on day two of the UBS Hong Kong Open.

McIlroy was just about to tee-off from the 14th when the tremor, measuring 2.8 on the Richter Scale, shook the China Special Administrative Region. It was traced to Shenzhen just 10 miles away on the China mainland.

“My legs just started shaking like jelly over my tee shot,” said McIlroy.

“It was really scary and at first everyone wondered what was going on. I’ve never felt anything like that before, and not looking forward to being around if something like that happens again.”

McIlroy’s playing partner, Ian Poulter was bending down to put something in his bag, where he wondered what was happening.

“It was strange as the ground shook slightly for no more than a second, and just as I was about to pick my ball up,” said Poulter.

Poulter, in his first ever Hong Kong Open, blasted out a 10-under par 60 for the lowest score of his career but it won’t count in the record books as a ‘preferred lie’ rule was still in effect.

Korean-born American Anthony Kang (61) is in second place and one clear of McIlroy (66) and England’s Simon Dyson (65).

McIlroy had the chance to end the round tied with Poulter but dunked his approach shot from a fairway bunker into water hazard at the last.

Michael Hoey said he benefited from a 30-minute pre-round back massage to shoot a 65 and move to seven under par, one fewer than Ballyclare’s Gareth Maybin (67).

Meanwhile, a decision by Shane Lowry to turn down competing in Japan and instead tee-up in Hong Kong has been spoiled after the former Irish Open winner missed the cut.

Lowry had been afforded a return invitation to compete in this week’s Dunlop Phoenix Open after finishing third last year behind Italy’s Edoardo Molinari.

However, the 24-year old Irish player instead elected to compete in the Hong Kong Open and try to cement his place in the season-ending Dubai World Championship.

Lowry had arrived in Hong Kong lying 62nd on the Race to Dubai money list and just needing to top-15 to move inside the top 60 and be assured of a place in the $US 7.5m event. However, scores of 68 and a second round 73 for a one-over par tally has seen Lowry miss the cut.