Page 18 - AT

A18 SPORTS
Saturday 2 November 2019
Fitzpatrick takes 1-shot lead over McIlroy in Shanghai

By DOUG FERGUSON one putt for a bogey. "I
AP Golf Writer tried to hit the same shot
SHANGHAI (AP) — Already as yesterday, but the wind
with three victories and a was more off the left," Mc-
career-best 17 finishes in Ilroy said.
the top 10, Rory McIlroy has "I knew I had to caress one
put himself in position to a little bit, and I caressed it
add to those totals going dead left. Made a good 5."
into the weekend at the Schauffele is moderately
HSBC Champions. shocked to be in the mix
He made a mess of the considering how badly he
16th hole Friday and es- has felt this week, often
caped with bogey after turning to cough into the
hitting three tee shots (only crook of his elbow after hit-
two of them counted). ting shots.
He bounced back with a He couldn't find the fairway
5-iron to 3 feet for eagle on and limited the damage
the final hole for a 5-under with his short game on the
67, leaving him one shot front nine, then cleaned it
behind Matt Fitzpatrick. up on the back nine with
McIlroy is happy with what three birdies.
he has done this year. But No one has won back-to-
as he stood beneath the back in the HSBC Champi-
clubhouse at Sheshan In- Matthew Fitzpatrick of England tees off for the HSBC Champions golf tournament held at the ons since it became a World
ternational, he shared an- Sheshan International Golf Club in Shanghai on Friday, Nov. 1, 2019. Golf Championship in 2009,
other number that makes Associated Press and Schauffele might be
him proud. but that starts with chanc- ball, and the ball was still in eight players going into the the best bet extending an
"I have top 10s in 50% of my es. the air — very weird," Fitz- weekend came from eight American streak of seven
PGA Tour starts," McIlroy He has another one in patrick said. countries. victories in this series.
said. "To me, that's a nice Shanghai. It rolled out onto the green McIlroy ran off four straight "I was 1 over on the front
stat to know that most times Fitzpatrick played bogey- and caught a slope away birdies on the front, only for nine and was not looking
you tee it up, you maybe free in the second round for from the cup. No mat- his momentum to slow. And like a real golfer — or at
not contend, but you're a 67 that put him at 11-un- ter. He holed the long par then he was happy to only least a professional golfer
putting yourself there." der 133. He figured to drop putt, hit 5-iron to 15 feet for lose one shot on the 16th — on that front stretch,"
He was rounding off figures, a shot on the 16th after a birdie on the tough par-3 hole, which measures 288 Schauffele said.
but it's no less impressive. bad drive and a good idea 17th and got up-and-down yards. "Happy that my feet got
McIlroy, who is wrapping that went bad. from the fairway on the McIlroy hit 3-wood so wild under me on the back
up his 12th full year as a pro, He hooked his tee shot to- par-5 closing hole for the to the left in the trees that nine, and just sort of had a
has finished in the top 10 in ward the trees and did 36-hole lead. he hit a provisional — a little bit of a better time."
49% of his PGA Tour starts. well to get the ball to the Defending champion Xan- 6-iron this time — for a lost Im, looking more and more
Tiger Woods is at 55%, while back of the green, facing der Schauffele, still strug- ball. like a pick for the Presi-
Phil Mickelson is at 32%. a tough lie with the ball gling with remnants of the He found it. dents Cup next week, was
Dustin Johnson, who turned nestled in deep rough. flu, rallied for a 69 and was But he realized that by tak- around the lead all day
pro about the same time as Fitzpatrick thought about two shots behind, along ing a penalty for an unplay- until a bogey from the bun-
McIlroy and already has 20 chipping a 7-wood, blad- with Adam Scott (69) and able lie, getting back to the ker on the 17th and failing
titles on the PGA Tour, is at ing a wedge or stabbing at Sungjae Im (69). fairway would have been to make birdie on the 18th.
37%. it with his putter. Li Haotong of China lost harder than going back to Scott birdied three straight
McIlroy looked up his re- He went with the third op- ground with a 72, but he the tee. holes in the middle of his
cord because it's what tion. remained in the mix at So, he hit a third tee shot, back nine to stay in the
drives him. Winning, sure, "The putter went past the three shots behind. The top a lob wedge to 8 feet and hunt.q
Pliskova advances, Svitolina

wins again at WTA Finals

vanced to the semifinals of going to end up in the net," Svitolina had already quali-
the WTA Finals for the third Pliskova said. "I was kind of fied for the semifinals from
straight year, beating Si- happy, of course. the Purple Group before
mona Halep 6-0, 2-6, 6-4 Fri- "Felt sorry for her because the match. She saved two
day shortly after defending the match was so close." set points in the second set
champion Elina Svitolina In the semifinals, Pliskova before finally winning the
completed a near-perfect will take on top-ranked Ash match on her sixth match
group stage. Barty — Australia's first fe- point.
Pliskova benefited from a male year-end No. 1. "I am that kind of person
Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic hits a backhand shot bit of luck on match point, Svitolina, who made it that each time I step on the
against Simona Halep of Romania in the WTA Finals Tennis hitting a forehand that through the group stage court I have to win," Svito-
Tournament at the Shenzhen Bay Sports Center in Shenzhen, caught the top of the net without dropping a set, lina said. "My parents raised
China's Guangdong province, Friday, Nov. 1, 2019. and dropped over for a fi- beat replacement Sofia me this way, that I have to
Associated Press nal break of serve. Kenin 7-5, 7-6 (10) earlier Fri- fight for everything, I have
By SANDRA HARWITT SHENZHEN, China (AP) "It was big relief after this day. She will next face Be- to give 100% each time I
Associated Press — Karolina Pliskova ad- point because I felt it was linda Bencic. play.q