Sweden’s Henrik Stenson and Spanish World Number Three Sergio Garcia share a one stroke lead over England’s Oliver Wilson and Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell after the second round of the HSBC Champions was finally completed.
Stenson, who began the day at the top of leaderboard after carding a seven under par 65 on Thursday before Friday's play was completely washed out, produced a solid three under 69, while Garcia shot a bogey free 68.
Garcia said: "I stayed pretty patient, had a lot of pars and I looked like I wasn't going to birdie. The good thing was that I was not making any bogeys. Then I managed to have a nice finish with an eagle on 14th which obviously helped a lot and then a couple of nice birdies on the 16th and 18th. It was a good solid round but it could have been different if I had made a couple of birdies earlier on but at the end of the day, it was still a nice solid round.”
Stenson added: “I had a great first round and as you know I have been struggling with my scoring a little bit lately so it was good to get that one in. Then there was a long wait to get out there again obviously, but I was pleased with my scoring this afternoon.
“I was still putting pretty good and played mainly three woods today to keep the ball in play and hit some good approaches and plodding along and making the odd birdie here and there, so it has been good.”
Wilson, who is playing at the Champions of Champions event in Shanghai courtesy of his Order of Merit ranking, carded five birdies in a 68 to make his move up the leaderboard.
Former US Open Championship winner Ogilvy shot the equal best round of the day, a bogey free 65. “I played well,” said Ogilvy. “It felt like a long time since I had actually played considering we have been sitting around for a day and a half but I made a few putts and didn’t really miss and short ones. It was a good score.”
McDowell, like Wilson a Ryder Cup debutant at Valhalla this year, matched Ogilvy’s effort with a flawless third round, while Mickelson carded a two under par 70.
“I played very solidly, I didn’t do much wrong,” said McDowell. “I hit a lot of fairways, a lot of greens and was never really out of position at all. It could have been better really, but I am very content obviously.”
Meanwhile, in recognition of the status of the HSBC Champions and the desire to maintain its integrity in the world of golf, it is the joint decision of HSBC, IMG and the sanctioning Tours that the event be decided over 72 holes, with the event concluding by lunchtime on Monday.
The decision to complete the fourth round on Monday demonstrates a commitment to golf and to the ever growing status of the HSBC Champions on the world stage. The support of the players for this decision is indicative of how high this tournament is in their priorities.
World Number Two Phil Mickelson was quick to endorse the planned Monday finish, “This event is world class. The field is world class. The course is world class. World class events are 72 holes. The HSBC Champions is a 72-hole tournament. So you do the math.”
World Number Three Sergio Garcia, added “This tournament is of global significance, so of course we should play to a finish. We’ve got all of the best available golfers in the world here and we’re going to have an exciting finish.”
Chinese legend Zhang Lian-wei declared the announcement a milestone in the development of the sport in his country, “I’m very proud for Chinese golf. A decision like this proves that the HSBC Champions and golf in China are truly important on the world stage. This is a very significant moment for us all. At the start of my career there were almost no tournaments in China. Now we have an event that is treated with the respect normally given to the Majors,” he said.
Zhang Xiaoning, Director of Multi-ball Sports Administration Center, General Administration of Sports of China, Managing Deputy Chairman and General Secretary of China Golf Association said: “In the tradition of golf around the world, Monday play is an honour reserved for only the most important tournaments. Of course we wish the weather had been more co-operative, but the delay and the desire of everyone involved to continue to play on Monday has proved something of great significance for Chinese golf.
"It has proved that we have one of the world’s most important tournaments and it has proved that Chinese golf has truly arrived on the world stage. We appreciate the commitment of the organisers and all of the golf tours that sanction this event with the China Golf Association to support this decision.”
