It was a visual treat for Golf fans as Dustin Johnson seized an outright lead with a sensational nine-under-par 63 on day 2 at the WGC-HSBC Champions on Friday.

 

Johnson showed why he is the world number one by delivering a putting masterclass where he made a total of 26 putts with a new putter at the Sheshan International Golf Club.

 

                                                                                                                                                                                      (Image Credit: Getty)

 

                          Johnson’s 63 matches the lowest second round in the history of the WGC-HSBC Champions

 

 
He birdied holes two and eight for an outward 34 but stamped his authority with an inward 29 that was highlighted by seven birdies and two pars for a two-day total of 13-under-par 131. He said, "I played very well today. I actually got a putter like about 20 minutes before I teed off, it's a Spider, so it's one that I've used before. I wasn't really pleased with the one I played with yesterday, so the guys here in China made me one. I got it right before I walked to the tee. I hit a few putts on the practise green with it and I was like, oh, this will work pretty well. Went out and holed a lot of putts today, so kind of like it. This is a golf course that I enjoy playing. It suits my eye very well."

 
Overnight leader Brooks Koepka slipped to second place following a 68 while Thailand’s Kiradech Aphibarnrat was the highest placed Asian in equal third with Olympic Gold medalist Justin Rose of England on matching 135 total.

 

 

                                       Thailand's Kiradech has made his strong presence felt at the tournament

 

Malaysia’s Gavin Green, who started the day tied for second with Kiradech, struggled to find the fairways and hopes to give a better account of himself when the weekend rounds commence.

 
The Asian Tour Order of Merit leader is eight shots back of Johnson, bunched in tied-12 place which also includes Korean-American David Lipsky and Australia’s Scott Hend, ranked second and third respectively on the merit list.
 
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW? 

 

• Dustin Johnson remains on course to become the first player in history to win three of the four World Golf Championships in a single season after claiming the WGC-Mexico Championship and WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play.
• Johnson’s 63 matches the lowest second round in the history of the WGC-HSBC Champions. 
• Johnson’s two-day total of 131 is one shot shy of the tournament 36-hole record of 130 set by Kevin Kisner in 2015.
• Brooks Koepka is making his second appearance at the WGC-HSBC Champions. He finished tied-40 last year.
• Koepka’s best WGC outing to date is a tied-fifth finish at the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play earlier this year where he lost to Jason Day in the quarter-finals.
• Kiradech Aphibarnrat’s best finish at a World Golf Championships was his tied-18th result at the 2016 WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play.
• Kiradech won the Asian Tour Order of Merit title in 2013 and finished tied-second at the Italian Open a fortnight ago.

 

Day 1: Brookes Koepka exudes power to dominate, India’s Chawrasia tied for 48th  at WGC-HSBC Champions