Kevin Kisner leads HSBC Champions as Spieth, McIlroy lose ground
Kevin Kisner has found his way into the lead at the WGC-HSBC Champions in China, two rounds away from his first PGA Tour win.
After opening with 8-under 64 at Sheshan International in Shanghai, Kisner followed up with a 66 Friday to take a two-shot lead over Russell Knox through 36 holes. And Kisner has managed his way to the lead without any kind of practice round, seeing this course for the first time.
“Sometimes it’s good. Don’t know where all the bad stuff is,” Kisner said after his round.
Kisner also doesn’t seem to have a case of stage fright, shrugging off that he’s playing in an elite field.
“It’s just golf, man, same old,” he said. “Doesn’t matter if it was here or wherever. Still get the ball in the hole as fast as you can.”
First-round leader Branden Grace, who shot 63 to open, shot 71 on Friday to trail by four shots heading into the weekend.
Meanwhile, Jordan Spieth couldn’t make hay on Friday, struggling to even-par 72. He’s 10 behind Kisner. Spieth said he had difficulty in staying focused through the round, and it showed. He made three consecutive bogeys on Nos. 11-13, but rallied to find two birdies into the house to get back to even par on the day.
“I lost a lot of focus there, too,” he said. “I felt like I wasn’t zeroing in. I felt like I was very lazy in my routine, very lazy in picking targets. And it bit me with three unforced errors in a row on the back nine there, but I am pleased with the way that we did rebound there and get two more coming in.”
Rory McIlroy also went 68-72 for the first 36 holes, suggesting he’s still trying to get over a case of food poisoning.
“I wouldn’t say I’m 100 percent,” he said. “I struggled to hit balls today on the range, get a few cramps in the stomach.”
As a result, he’s missing some pep in his step.
“I didn’t play very well today,” he said. “I was just a bit flat out there.”
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Ryan Ballengee is a Yahoo Sports contributor. Find him on Facebook and Twitter.
