Day two digest: WGC-HSBC Champions

Everything you need to know from Friday at Sheshan International Golf Club.

Fitz flew up the leaderboard, there were closing roars for Rory and Challenge Tour graduates showed their mettle on day two of the WGC-HSBC Champions.

Here is everything you need to know from Friday in Shanghai.

Flying Fitz in the mix again

Matthew Fitzpatrick has a win in every season since he came through the Qualifying School in 2014 but he is running out of events to extend that streak another year. The Englishman has four runner up finishes on the 2019 Race to Dubai but has yet to get over the line, and a blemish free 67 on day two in Shanghai has him in position for another strong weekend. "The back nine, I putted fantastic, as good as I've putted all year," he said.

Big finish continues McIlroy's good start

Rory McIlroy heads into the weekend a shot behind Fitzpatrick after a finish the fans around the 18th will never forget. The World Number Two had not picked up a shot on the par fives in round two as he arrived on the 18th tee but when he put an incredible second to two feet, he had an eagle. The four time Major Championship winner heads into the weekend looking for a first European Tour victory since 2016. "Delighted with the first two rounds," he said. "To put myself right in contention going into the weekend is something that I wanted to do. It's something that I haven't done a lot of over the last few weeks. I've sort of had bad starts and then clawed my way back into a good position at the end but to be right in the tournament after two days, I'm excited."

MacIntyre and Perez rise to the challenge

To have qualified for a World Golf Championships event in your rookie season after graduating from the Challenge Tour is an impressive feat - to be contending in one is even better. Victor Perez will head into the weekend three shots off the lead, just three ahead of Robert MacIntyre. "I think it's good, some of us here graduating from the Challenge Tour last year," said Perez. "I got to know Bob over the course of the Challenge Tour and this year and it's been a lot of fun to battle it out." MacIntyre added: "I think everyone's dragging each other on. It's good to see familiar faces."

Oosthuizen keeping his eye on the oval ball

As well as the final WGC event of the season, there is the small matter of the Rugby World Cup final this weekend and weather permitting all of the players should be comfortably in position for South Africa v England. That will certainly please Springbok mad Louis Oosthuizen. "I think I'm more nervous for that than I am for my round of golf. We're going to support the boys, they look ready. We'll see how tomorrow goes. I think we're all going to watch it in the hotel and that's even worse because there's a lot of English players here. I think we are outnumbered but we'll have a nice voice in that match. I get very excited and very angry at the same time. I'm a really big Springboks supporter, so sorry for any words that might come out of my mouth tomorrow watching the game."