Rory McIlroy misses cut at Hong Kong Open

World number one Rory McIlroy was resigned to missing his first cut since the US Open in June after a shocking finish to his second round at the UBS Hong Kong Open today.

The tournament’s defending champion looked to have done what he needed to do when he had four birdies in his first 11 holes to climb to one under par in the tricky wind.

But then came four bogeys in the next five and a closing four-putt double bogey six at the 367-yard 10th for a 72 and five over total.

“I just got on a slide and couldn’t stop it,” said McIlroy, who was on such a high last Sunday after clinching his European and US Tour money list double. “Not the week that I wanted. I was only four off the lead and thinking I could make a couple more and be right back in contention. Unfortunately it just went the other way.”