Dustin Johnson equalled the Sheshan International course record with a stunning nine-under par round of 63 to surge five shots clear of the field at the WGC-HSBC Champions in Shanghai.
The 29-year-old American, who has claimed seven victories on the PGA Tour, birdied six of his opening seven holes to set the tone for what would become a brilliant round. Having dropped a shot at the tenth, Johnson would also close his round in exquisite fashion, with four birdies in his final six holes to complete his stellar effort of 63.
The supremely athletic and powerful hitter, who recently played in the Perth International, possesses a commanding five shot lead at the halfway stage over compatriots Bubba Watson and Boo Weekley, with day one leader Rory McIlroy also in that tie for second.
It was a frustrating second day for McIlroy, as the former world number one had remained three shots of the field midway through his round, before surrendering that advantage on the back nine. The two-time major winner, who is hoping to finish a disappointing 2013 strongly, had reached ten-under after three consecutive birdies at the end of the front nine. At this point, it looked like the 24-year-old would race further clear of the field, but three bogeys on the back nine saw him come home in a frustrating 39 to complete an even-par second round of 72.
McIlroy’s performance on the 18th typified his day. Having not made a single birdie on the back nine, his tee shot on the par five narrowly missed the water. With frustration inevitably taking hold of his mentality, McIlroy played aggressively, attempting to hit the green in two. However, his gallant effort would only find the lake, and he had to settle for a closing bogey, after two-putting following a stunning approach with his fourth shot.
“I'm definitely happy where I'm at,” said Johnson who is at 12-under after 36 holes. “I’ve played really well the last two days - I've really driven the ball well.
“For me, that's a big key. I drove it well today and I hit a lot of good iron shots, and I think it's tough to get it really close to these holes, but I made a lot of nice ten-15 footers today.”
One of those ten footers came on the last, as he claimed a tenth birdie of the day to establish his five-shot advantage with two rounds to play.
Having such an advantage, particularly with 36 holes remaining, would provide a strategic challenge to some, but Johnson is pretty defiant about maintaining his present approach into the weekend in China.
“I don't tend to play defensively. I just play my game and I play pretty aggressive. That's my game, so tomorrow I'm going to go out and try to do the same thing I did today. I didn't play really aggressive today, I just took what the golf course gave me and just tried to hit quality golf shots to give myself looks at birdies.”
Rory McIlroy had looked to continue where he left off on Thursday, after his opening 65, by playing his front-nine in a sublime three-under 33. However, he undid all of that good work in those final few holes, but it does leave him in a decent position with two rounds, and he should ensure of his qualification for the DP World Tour Championship.
”Obviously played nicely the front nine and then started to hit a lot of sloppy shots on the back,” he said. “I missed the last six greens in a row; missed seven greens on the back nine, so a bit of work needed on the range this afternoon.
”I just hit a couple of bad shots and then I guess I let it affect me a little bit and then I started to doubt myself sometimes. I didn't hit a lot of quality shots on the back nine.
”I think I hit the first ten greens, and then I made bogey on 11 and I had a chance at 12 and then from there on 13, I hit a bad drive up the left and that just knocked my confidence a little bit and I started to struggle from there. A bit of work on the range this afternoon and hopefully come out tomorrow and play a bit better.
”It would have been nice to play a bit better and start tomorrow with a few more shots in hand but I guess I'm in a decent position going into the weekend, and still have a great chance at winning this tournament.”
Also having a great chance of winning is former Masters champion Bubba Watson, who followed his opening round of 68 with a 69 on Friday, and Boo Weekley, who has enjoyed a resurgence to a career that saw him become one of the star members of the victorious U.S. Ryder Cup team in 2008.
At six-under, the likes of Sergio Garcia, Ernie Els, Ian Poulter and Graeme McDowell will all begin Saturday six shots off the lead, as the final World Golf Championship of the year heads into the weekend.
However, they will all have to overcome the prodigious skills of Dustin Johnson, whose talent has seen him establish a noteworthy advantage at this early stage.