Poulter storms to the top of the Hong Kong Open leaderboard

With all the talk surrounding Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell, Ian Poulter has flown under the media radar which is unusual for the assured Englishman.

But maybe the low-key approach is the best way for Poulter to go after shooting a season’s best 60 around the Hong Kong Golf Club, leaving the Englishman 2/1 to win the UBS Hong Kong Open.

But with two rounds left of the Hong Kong Open the tournament is still wide open, especially as the professionals continue to post scores in the low sixties and a 66 from McIlroy leaves him just two shots shy of his Ryder Cup team-mate.

McIlroy is 3/1 to win the Hong Kong Open, the same price he was after yesterday’s first round commenced but his countryman Graeme McDowell has drifted from 5/1 to 8/1 to win, despite shooting a 65 leaving him just one shot off McIlroy and three shots off Poulter.

McDowell is joined on ten-under par by wonderkid Matteo Manassero, the Italian shot 63 to go with his first round of 67 and is available at 14/1 to win his second tournament of the season at just 17 years of age.

Simon Dyson continues to perform consistently in Hong Kong after his second round 64 left him in a tie for third, and his top ten finish in this tournament last year will stand him in good stead for a challenge at the top – the Yorkshireman is 10/1 to win in Hong Kong.

With such low scores being posted, anyone who made the cut has the potential to advance up the leaderboard and Rhys Davies, who is at four-under par, is a tempting each way bet at 125/1 to win the Hong Kong Open.

Jeev Milkha Singh is in a tie for fifth and is available at 14/1 to win the Hong Kong Open. See the full UBS Hong Kong Open betting odds here.