McDowell five shots off Shanghai lead

Graeme McDowell is just five shots off the lead following his second round at the WGC-HSBC Champions event in Shanghai.

The Ulsterman hit a 69 and is six under, behind leader Frederick Jacobson, who is two clear on 11 under following a round of 66.

From two behind American Keegan Bradley overnight the 37-year-old Swede birdied four of his first seven holes and after more came at the seventh and ninth he signed for an 11-under-par halfway total of 133.

Jacobson, who had his first PGA Tour victory in America in June and was third in Malaysia last week, was two ahead of Bradley and three in front of Australian Adam Scott and South African Louis Oosthuizen.

It looked set to be another great day for USPGA champion Bradley when he rolled in a 40-foot eagle putt on the second and a 10-footer for birdie two holes later.

But the 25-year-old had his first bogey of the tournament after he missed the ninth green and did well not to drop another stroke at the 456-yard 11th.

He went left again into a dip and left his chip 12 feet short, but made it to remain nine under.

Playing partner Scott, who won golf’s last world championship in Akron in August, went to the turn in a superb 31 with six birdies and a bogey.

Last year’s Open winner Oosthuizen was going even better, though. Also out in 31, he picked up more shots at the 12th and 13th.

Meanwhile Lee Westwood and Rory McIlroy were still to make the move they were hoping for.

World number two Westwood, runner-up to Francesco Molinari last year, turned in 34, but with a bogey on the 10th was four under and world number two McIlroy was alongside him after three-putting the 12th.

The 22-year-old US Open champion had five birdies in the outward half, but mixed them with two bogeys.