Rose sails into Hong Kong lead

Justin Rose will head into the weekend with a one stroke lead at the Hong Kong Open, after carding a four-under-par 66 during the second round.
Rose, who had a bogey-free first round, made just one blemish on Friday and that was the dropped shot recorded at the ninth (his 18th). For a protracted period during Friday's second round, it looked like Rose would be completely flawless yet again.
Starting on the back nine, Rose drained birdies at the 10th, 14th and 18th holes. He continued his run when he made the turn, carding consecutive birdies at the third and fourth holes. During that spell there was not a bogey in sight.
However, Rose was not the only player to benefit for the low scoring conditions which presented themselves on Friday, with compatriots Ian Poulter, Matt Ford and Matthew Fitzpatrick also cashing in.
Poulter is in a tie for third, after the first 36 holes and Ford is in a tie for fifth, alongside Fitzpatrick. Both players are now just three strokes behind the leader.
This week is critical for several players on the European Tour. Some are fighting to secure a card for the coming season, while others are trying to secure a spot among the top 60 in the Race to Dubai.
Poulter is currently at 50th in the Race to Dubai. Following his four-under-par 66 on Friday, he has now put himself in a strong position to build on that this week. The Englishman is two strokes behind the leader.
Ford is outside the top 110 in the world but he could make some progress if he builds on the five-under-par 65 that he carded during the second round this week. Ford is on six-under-par for the week and three strokes behind Rose.
Fitzpatrick is fast emerging as a top candidate to win the Tour Championship at the end of the season. He was not as prolific as his compatriots on Friday but remains just three strokes behind the leader heading into the weekend.
Other stories were written on Friday though, as world number 285 Lucas Bjerregaard, who also started on the back nine, climbed four places on the leaderboard, finishing the round just one stroke behind Rose, after he also recorded a 66.
First round leader Wei-chin Lu dropped two places on Friday, despite shooting an under par round. He heads into the weekend, in a tie for third.
The man who shared the lead with him on Thursday, Andrea Pavan, dropped a remarkable 15 places on Friday, after carding a two-over-par 72 in the second round. His prospects have not diminished completely though, as he is still just five strokes behind Rose.
Former PGA Champion Y. E. Yang has continued to roll back the years this week, after carding a 66 on Friday, which moved him 16 places up the leaderboard, where he currently sits on six-under-par for the tournament.
Indian superstar Anirban Lahiri continues to impress on the European Tour, and joins Yang in a tie for fifth heading into the weekend.
Latest
-
News
Golfers warned of further sanctions if they continue to play in LIV breakaway
The DP World Tour has issued fines of £100,000 and tournament bans to its members who played in the inaugural LIV Golf event earlier this month
-
European Tour
DP World Tour hits members who played inaugural LIV series with £100,000 fines
They have also been banned from several forthcoming tournaments including the Scottish Open.
-
News
Rory McIlroy not impressed as Brooks Koepka becomes latest big name to join LIV
The world number two labelled the players who have joined the new series as “duplicitous” for the way they have handled their breakaway.
-
The Open
R&A confirms LIV Golf Series players will be allowed to compete at Open
The 150th Open Championship will get underway at St Andrews in three weeks’ time.
-
US Open
Matt Fitzpatrick turns to other major winners for advice on dealing with fame
Fitzpatrick won the US Open on Sunday.
-
News
Brooks Koepka set to join Saudi-backed LIV Golf Invitational Series
Koepka’s brother Chase played in the opening event at Centurion Club earlier this month.
-
US Open
Gary Player urges Matt Fitzpatrick to avoid ‘poison’ of modern-day coaching
Player tells US Open champion Fitzpatrick to learn from mistakes of recent major winners, saying: “The teaching today is the worst it has ever been.”
-
US Open
Matt Fitzpatrick’s caddie Billy Foster ready for ‘long party’ after US Open win
Foster won his first major after a 40-year career which includes spells working for the likes of Seve Ballesteros, Lee Westwood and Darren Clarke.
-
US Open
Matt Fitzpatrick backed to become a dominant force after winning first major
The Englishman claimed his first major title at Brookline.
-
US Open
Matt Fitzpatrick: A Blade with plenty of support who can really cut it
The Sheffield golfer landed his first major – and first professional win in America – at Brookline on Sunday.