Following their opening round 63, Graeme McDowell and Rory McIlroy have made their move in the Omega World Cup of Golf in China.

Trailing the Australian duo by two shots at the top of the leader board, the Irish duo share the lead at -13 with Richard Green and Brendon Jones. It could have been better for the pair but McIlroy missed a birdie putt on the last for the outright lead.

The Irish duo made a bright start at Mission Hills with birdies on four, six and seven. Bogeys on 11 and 13 threatened to check the momentum but two birdies coming home moved them to 13-under following a round of 68.

“We are happy, definitely, after the start we had,” McIlroy told Sky Sports. “We struggled to find our rhythm early, but we were able to play the first four holes in one-under which was a bonus. And then we started to play nicely after that.

“We left maybe a couple out there, but 68 is a good score and sets us up for a good weekend.”

McDowell said: “It is a difficult format, it is tough to get your rhythm. He hung us together early doors with some nice putts and then we started to get our rhythm. We are content with our score and we are playing nicely.”

The overnight leaders had a solid round but a bogey on the last saw them drop down to -13. Scotland are three behind the lead while Justin Rose and Ian Poulter of England are five shots behind the lead despite an eagle on the 16th.

Play resumes at Mission Hills at 3.30am Irish time.