The WGC-HSBC Champions might involve the best field of the year outside of the four Majors, but right now it’s Graeme McDowell’s tournament, and everyone else is just playing in it.
McDowell, with his sights firmly set at the Top 5 in the Race to Dubai standings, carded his second straight 67 on Friday to drop to 10-under for the tournament, increasing his lead to three strokes.
It was a bogey-free round for McDowell, who racked up five birdies on the day. That’s good for a two-stroke lead over the UK’s Ian Poulter, who also fired a 67. The best round of the day went to Japan’s Hiroshi Iwata, who drilled a 7-under 65 to rise from 37th to tied for third at 6-under.
The 33-year-old Iwata, who hasn’t played a big event since the British Open, racked up seven birdies. He won the Fujisankei Classic in September to draw a bid to this tournament.
Iwata is tied with American Bubba Watson, who also shot a 67 on the day.
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