Ireland second in Golf World Cup as Australia maintain lead

Australia made a good start to today’s foursomes at the Golf World Cup to maintain their two-shot cushion over Ireland at the Mission Hills resort on Hainan island.

Having finished yesterday’s fourballs top of the leaderboard at 11 under par, Brendan Jones and Richard Green were three under par through seven holes of their second round but with Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell hard on their heels.

The Australian pair began well with a birdie at the second and although they dropped a shot at the fourth, recovered with a birdie at the next and an eagle at the sixth to reach 14 under par through seven holes.

Following yesterday’s 63, Ireland maintained their pursuit of the Australians as McIlroy and McDowell compiled three birdies in their opening eight holes to move to 12 under par.

Scotland’s Martin Laird and Stephen Gallacher, meanwhile, were level par for the day after seven holes to remain in a group at nine-under that also featured United States, Netherlands, France and Colombia.

South African duo Charl Schwartzel and Louis Oosthuizen had climbed to eight under with two holes to play thanks to five birdies and a bogey while Wales sat seven shots off the lead as Rhys Davies and Jamie Donaldson could only muster two birdies through 13 holes.