Rory McIlroy struggling as Y. E Yang grabs early lead in UBS Hong Kong Open: Live Leaderboard
In a bid to topple the world number one Luke Donald from the Race to Dubai Money List, Rory McIlroy had done well up till the third day of the UBS Hong Kong Open, but it seems young Irishman’s luck has finally ran out. McIlroy started off the event with
a brilliant 64 on one of his favourite hunting grounds, the Hong Kong Golf Club, Fanling, sharing the lead with Alvaro Quiros and David Horsey but has now fallen for two terrible bogeys on the front nine on the third day, reverting back to his defensive play.
He is currently poised at two-over for the moment, and is still playing for the remaining six holes of the round.
Quiros, the stealthy Spaniard, has decided to step up the heat in the last event on the European Tour, before the calendar year would finally move the closing Dubai World Championship. He has pulled in just one birdie on the front nine since morning and
is working on the back nine for the moment.
Formidable Y. E Yang, the 2009 PGA Championship winner, has now clinched an early lead on the third day, finishing for five-under for the moment. He is playing for the 18th hole. Yang is sharing the lead with Thai player Pariya Junhasavasdikul
and Swede Peter Hanson, both working on their respective back nines for the moment. Hanson, who stayed behind the ranks on the opening two rounds, with scores of two-under, 68 on the both occasions, have carded four-under and is still playing for the last
three holes for the day.
McIlroy, who frequently toured Hong Kong for the Junior Faldo events since the age of 16, is hoping to topple Donald as the money leader on the Race to Dubai points table. He needs at least runners up finish this week and post a victory in the season-closing
Dubai challenge. He is currently poised at number three on the Race to Dubai rankings, trailing Donald by $1.1-million. Donald has decided to take a break from the UBS Hong Kong event in the wake of his new born daughter and also because of his father’s tragic
demise last month.
Some 66 players made the halfway cut in the event co-sanctioned by Asian Tour and the European Tour.
Tags: