SHANGHAI - Rory McIlroy struggled to a level-par 72 Friday in the second round of the WGC-HSBC Champions in Shanghai to fall 10 shots behind leader Kevin Kisner.
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland tees off during the WGC-HSBC Champions golf tournament in Shanghai on November 6, 2015
The world number three wasn't the only superstar to find scoring difficult as the wind got up at the 7,200-yard par-72 Sheshan International Golf Club in Shanghai.
McIlroy's playing partners and fellow top-10 ranked players Dustin Johnson and Rickie Fowler carded 72 and 71 respectively.
"I didn't play very well today," said the Northern Irishman. "I was just a bit flat out there. So, yeah, left myself a lot to do over the weekend but hopefully I can shoot a couple of good scores."
The scoreboard had been dominated by rounds in the 60s on Thursday but only 16 of the elite 78-man field managed to crack 70 on the second day.
"I've shot 63 around here before," said McIlroy, who admitted he still was not 100 percent after a bout of food poisoning earlier in the week.
"No reason why I can't go out and shoot a score like that over the weekend and get myself somewhat back in the tournament."
World number two and double major winner Jordan Spieth showed he was human in a year when he almost conquered all with three consecutive bogeys from the 11th.
It was his second worst scoring run of 2015 after going bogey-bogey-double bogey on his first three holes in the PGA Tour's Barclays Championship way back in August.
"I hit some shots that I was very shocked with today," said Spieth. "I felt like I was very lazy in my routine and it bit me with three unforced errors in a row on the back nine there."
A birdie four at the 18th gave some cheer to the 22-year-old who finished with a level-par 72 to stay at four-under for the tournament and in a 10-man tie for 27th beside McIlroy.
Defending champion and world number four Bubba Watson lost ground with a 73, bogeying the 18th after finding the greenside lake and is a shot further back at three-under.
- 'Beyond expectations' -
Kisner followed up his opening day 64 with a 66 to lie 14 under par, remarkable scoring for the 31-year-old American who didn't practise at all before Thursday because of a bad back. It surprised even himself.
"It's beyond my expectations," Kisner said. "I had no expectations coming in. So it's been good. I'm making a lot of putts and that's fun."
America-based Scotsman Russell Knox stands alone in second place on 12 under par after a best-of-the-day 65 in his first World Golf Championships event.
Overnight leader Branden Grace found it hard to follow his stunning opening 63, managing only a 71 to fall four shots behind Kisner at 10 under par.
"It was tough," said the South African. "Most of these holes are tree-lined, so it's tough to really trust the wind."
Local hero Li Haotong continued to thrill his legions of Chinese fans with a three-under 69 and a share of fourth place at nine-under for the tournament level with American Ryder Cup star Patrick Reed.
"It's a pretty good start on the first five holes to make three birdies," said the 20-year-old Li, who got off to a flyer and at one stage on Friday was atop the leaderboard.
"It was very cool, a lot of fun to see my name up there on the leaderboards around the course. I missed some chances, but last hole was a very important up-and-down for bogey."