SHANGHAI—Dustin Johnson overpowered Sheshan International on Friday with a stunning display off the tee that carried him to 10 birdies, a share of the course record with a 9-under 63 and a five-shot lead going into the weekend at the HSBC Champions.
“I’m driving it really good,” said Johnson, and while that didn’t provide much insight, he really didn’t need to say much more.
The 29-year-old American, who was 1-over after his opening nine holes of this World Golf Championship, hammered a drive on the par-5 second hole and has been on a roll ever since. He is 13-under over his last 27 holes.
Johnson became the sixth player to shoot 63 at Sheshan, and the first since Martin Kaymer in the final round two years ago.
He was at 12-under 132.
Rory McIlroy, who started the second round with a two-shot lead, reached 10-under at the turn and couldn’t keep up. McIlroy hit into the same fairway bunker on No. 11 as he did on Thursday and made bogey, but he didn’t have many birdie chances the rest of the way and had to settle for a 72.
McIlroy was at 7-under 137 with Boo Weekley (67) and former Masters champion Bubba Watson (69).
“I just hit a couple of bad shots, and then I guess I let it affect me a little bit, and then I started to doubt myself sometimes,” McIlroy said. “I didn’t hit a lot of quality shots on the back nine.” AP