Russell Knox makes ground as Kevin Kisner leads WGC-HSBC Champions

Russell Knox continued to make the most of his late entry to the WGC-HSBC Championship by moving within two shots of the halfway lead in Shanghai.

Knox posted a bogey-free 65 to get within two of pacesetter Kevin Kisner at Sheshan International, as Race to Dubai leader Rory McIlroy and world No 2 Jordan Spieth both failed to make a move up the leaderboard.

The Scot had initially been seventh reserve, but with the first four already drafted in and next options Tyrrell Hatton and Ian Poulter added to the field, Knox only found out on Friday while playing in the CIMB Classic that he would be featuring in the second Final Series event. 

Sitting four shots off the pace after an opening-round 67, Knox briefly moved in to the share of the lead after following three gains on the back nine with three further birdies in a four-hole stretch after the turn, only for Kisner to move in to the outright lead by picking up strokes at the 16th and 18th.

Knox holed another birdie at the eighth to get to 12 under for the tournament, with Branden Grace a further two shots back following a one-under 71 in blustery conditions. 

"It's beyond my expectations," Kisner said. "I had no expectations coming in, so it's been good. I'm making a lot of putts and that's fun keeping the round going when I miss a green. 

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"Every hole seems to be a crosswind, especially on that back nine. Trying to get the angle of the fairway with the crosswind is difficult and the rough is up, but when I missed them, I made par and when I hit them I made some birdies. Hopefully I can keep that game plan going this weekend."

Patrick Reed sits five adrift after birdieing the last, as McIlroy lies in a tie for 27th after a frustrating second round in Shanghai.

The world No 3 recovered from a bout of food poisoning to card a 68 on Thursday and came within inches of a hole-in-one at the 12th on Friday, but missed the green to bogey the next before pulling his iron shot at the short 16th and missing the four-foot par save.

Things looked to get even worse for McIlory at the last after he found the hazard and took a penalty drop on a steep slope, but pitched to four feet to card a five and sign for a level-par 72.

Spieth, making his first competitive appearance since last month's Presidents Cup, slipped out of contention with a run of three straight bogeys from the 11th to stay alongside McIlroy on four under, with defending champion Bubba Watson a further shot back.

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