Scotland's Russell Knox in contention as Rory McIlroy struggles in Shanghai

“I didn’t play very well today. I was just a bit flat out there,” McIlroy said afterwards.

Scotland’s Russell Knox could turn his late entry into the final World Golf Championship event of the season into a first European Tour title and a £900,000 payday after a superb second round in Shanghai.

Knox was initially seventh reserve for the £5.5million HSBC Champions at Sheshan International, but discovered last week he had secured a place in the 78-man field when JB Holmes withdrew.