World number two Lee Westwood and Chinese number one Liang Wen-chong shared the lead at two-under-par going into the Sunday's final two holes of the week-long, seven-city, eight course, 18-hole Shui On Land China Golf Challenge.
The China Challenge four - Westwood, McIlroy, Liang and Poulter
World number two Lee Westwood and Chinese number one Liang Wen-chong shared the lead at two-under-par going into the Sunday's final two holes of the week-long, seven-city, eight course, 18-hole Shui On Land China Golf Challenge.
Westwood, 38, moved to two-under with a birdie at the 198-yard par-three 15th, the second of three holes played at Long Island Golf and Country Club in Dongguan on Saturday before
the players took a helicopter to Macau, for the final stop of their unusual tour.
The Englishman could have taken the outright lead, but missed a four-foot birdie putt on the uphill 418-yard par-four 16th hole.
Ian Poulter, who bogeyed the 503-yard par-four 14th, was even-par and world number three Rory McIlroy, the US Open champion, remained a long way back at six-over.
"I've drawn level, there's two holes to go and all to play for in Macau. We have four good players so it was always going to be close, but to be tied going into the final day is ideal for everybody," said Westwood, who has twice been world number one in the last 12 months.
"I won the Macau Open in 1998. We're not playing the same golf course, but obviously I have very fond memories of the place, as I do of all of Asia. I've had a lot of success here."
Westwood believes the Shui On Land China Golf Challenge has lived up to its name, having already visited Shanghai and Zhengzhou in the east, Beijing and Dalian in the north, and Chongqing in the west this week.
"It was a lovely day and the golf course at Long Island is very good. I must say, however, that we've played some challenging holes. We're not only playing China's greatest 18 (holes), I think we're also playing China's hardest 18, too," he said with a smile.
"All four of us (the players) have commenting about how much the temperature and conditions have changed over the last five days, but when you think about it, there are thousands of miles of flying involved. It's like going from Scotland to Spain, so you can't expect the same weather."
Liang, who has led since the third day, will have huge support at Caesars Golf Macau as the 33-year-old Zhongshan native continues to lead the home charge against three of the world's most famous golfers.
He said: "I'm quite happy to still be sharing the lead and it will be interesting in Macau. I just need to keep concentrating and make my charge. It has been a good challenge and we had some challenging holes at Long Island."
Liang, who finished eighth at last year's PGA Championship for his best finish in a Major, added: "It has been very interesting travelling in China this week. It has been good for Chinese golf. I'm proud to represent China and host Ian, Rory and Lee, and they have all said they will come back next year, which makes me very happy."
Since Monday, the players have teed it up and played two of three holes at each of the Tomson Golf Club in Shanghai, the Jinsha Lake Golf Club in Zhengzhou, the Topwin Golf and Country Club and Jade Island International Golf Club in Beijing, the 36-hole Red Flag Valley club in Dalian, the Sun Kingdom Golf Clubs in Chongqing and Long Island Golf and Country Club in Dongguan on Saturday..
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