Wilson eyes breakthrough win

England’s Oliver Wilson, who has yet to claim his maiden career title, admitted his confidence is soaring after moving within a shot of HSBC Champions second-round leaders Henrik Stenson and Sergio Garcia.

The Champions of Champions event in Shanghai brings together tournament winners from across the globe, but the 28-year-old secured his trip to the £3.2m (€3.9m) season-opening showpiece – dubbed Asia’s major – courtesy of his place on the Order of Merit.

Wilson , who made his Ryder Cup debut in September, finished 11th on the end of season money list after a 46th place finish at last week’s Volvo Masters at Valderrama, although he was disappointed at being pipped to a top-10 berth by tournament winner Soren Kjeldsen.

But now the four-time runner-up in 2008 is eying a breakthrough victory after carding a second round four-under-par 68 at a damp Sheshan International Golf Club on Saturday to move onto nine-under-par and into second place.

“It would be nice to win, win the champion’s tournament without actually winning before. I’m due and I’m confident. I have a nice stretch coming up and I am confident,” said world number 55 Wilson, who is set to play at the upcoming Singapore Open and Hong Kong Open before the end of the year.

“Hopefully I can retire this year on a high note with a win, maybe two, who knows, maybe three; there’s three events left.

“I feel in good shape, everything is good. I just have to sort everything out and get the putting going and everything is in good shape.”

A continuation of his form over the third round, which will begin tomorrow, and the fourth round, which will finish on Monday after Friday was washed out, would help Wilson achieve another goal of securing a return to the world’s top 50 by the end of the year to earn a trip to April’s Masters at Augusta.

Interestingly, Wilson and Stenson teamed up to record a comeback win over Phil Mickelson, who is in the hunt to defend his title in Shanghai after a second round 70 left the world number two just two shots adrift, and Anthony Kim at the Ryder Cup.

Wilson’s fellow Ryder Cup debutant, Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell, also sits just a shot adrift of Sweden’s Stenson and world number three Garcia, although the two-time winner this year was able to squeeze into four holes of his third round today before bad light stopped play.

The 29-year-old was the only player seen on the practice range on Friday despite the torrential rain, but the extra work paid off as McDowell carded a flawless second round seven-under-par 65 which propelled him to eight-under overall.

The world number 33 then made the most of the start to his third round after picking up a birdie over four holes.

“My game wasn’t firing at all cylinders at the weekend at Valderrama and on Thursday I didn’t hit in particularly well,” said McDowell.

“I had a bit of work on the range to do and despite the rain I managed to get some work done yesterday morning and Thursday evening and I definitely hit it much better.”

With leaders Stenson and Garcia as well Wilson and McDowell among the 24 players who will start their third rounds tomorrow, and the remaining 52 only through a maximum of five holes, the event will finish on Monday.