Campbell leads, McIlroy misses cut at Hong Kong Open

• Michael Campbell shot a second-round 64 to take the lead in the Hong Kong Open
• Campbell, the 2005 U.S. Open champ, is on a seven-year winless drought

HONG KONG (AP) — Hong Kong Open leader Michael Campbell says it will be easier for him to end a seven-year winless drought after defending champion Rory McIlroy missed the cut at the Hong Kong Open on Friday.

The 43-year-old Campbell holed a 10-foot birdie at the last for a 6-under 64 that gave him a one-stroke lead at 9 under on the Fanling course at Hong Kong Golf Club.

Four other 40-somethings followed Campbell on the leaderboard. Miguel Angel Jimenez of Spain, 48, posted a 67 to share second with Zhang Lian-wei of China, 47, and Fredrik Andersson Hed of Sweden, 40, who both shot 66.

And 42-year-old Anders Hansen of Denmark matched Campbell's 64 to sit fifth at 7 under.

Campbell denied Tiger Woods the 2005 U.S. Open title at Pinehurst, and hasn't tasted success since winning the World Match Play Championship at Wentworth four months later.

He was surprised to learn McIlroy missed the cut with a 5-over total.

"It now makes winning the Hong Kong Open a lot easier, definitely," Campbell said. "But then Rory's world No. 1 for a reason as he's a wonderful talent and I've admired him ever since he turned pro."

The New Zealander based in Spain was third in the Portugal Masters a month ago, his best result in years. He confessed there were occasions since his last win, after which he became distracted by off-course events, that he considered quitting golf. But he gained inspiration from the winning efforts of fellow 40-somethings.

"You can't buy confidence, you just have to earn it, and I think I've earned it over the last seven years since I haven't won a golf tournament," Campbell said.

"There have been times where I wanted to throw it in, but what's really inspired me over the last, particularly over the last four or five years, is seeing my friends around the same age bracket as me, the 40-plus club.

"The likes of Ernie (Els) winning his fourth major, Thomas Bjorn winning three times last year. Paul Lawrie's had a wonderful last couple of years. Padraig Harrington, he's 40 now. Jim Furyk winning the FedEx Cup. And the list goes on.

"So being 40 isn't that bad playing golf, and seeing my friends win tournaments left, right and center definitely inspired me to don't give up and keep on playing."

McIlroy double-bogeyed his last hole in a round of 72, following a 73 to open his title defense.

"It's disappointing as you never want to miss the cut and even more when you are defending a tournament," he said.

"So it's not the week I wanted but then I have a few days to work on my putting and try and get ready for (the Tour Championship in) Dubai."

Dunlop Phoneix: Luke Donald shot a 7-under 64 to take a four-stroke lead after the second round of the Dunlop Phoenix on Friday in Miyazaki, Japan.

Donald birdied three holes on the front nine at the Phoenix Country Club and added four more after the turn to finish at 13-under 129, four strokes ahead of Japan's Shunsuke Sonada (66).

Donald, who won the U.S. PGA Tour and European Tour money titles last season, is playing in the Japan Tour event for the first time since 2007.

Japan's Hiroyuki Fujita also shot a 66 to sit in third place, one stroke ahead of compatriot Koichiro Kawano (69).

A group of four golfers, including overnight co-leader Brendan Jones of Australia (72), were tied for fifth at 5-under 137.

South African Open: Henrik Stenson opened up a four-shot lead at the South African Open with a second-round 65 on Friday in Johannesburg before play was suspended for the day because of an electrical storm.

Stenson's 7-under 65 to go with his opening 66 put him 13 under par and well clear of Swedish compatriot Magnus Carlsson, who shot a 67 to move to second on 9 under. Further back, a large number of the field had yet to finish.

First-round leader Merrick Bremner of South Africa was also at 9 under but still had four holes to play when they were called in for lightning at the Serengeti Golf and Wildlife Estate on the edge of Johannesburg.

Seeking a first tournament win in three years — and first on the European tour in five years — Stenson had five birdies, an eagle and no bogeys to take control, giving him a good chance of staying inside the top 60 players in the European money list and making the end-of-season Dubai World Tour Championship.

Charl Schwartzel was in a tie for eighth at 6 under with four holes to finish in his round. The former Masters champion picked up three birdies but also had two bogeys to make little progress on the leaders. Former top-ranked Martin Kaymer was 4 under, also with four to play, and nine shots off Stenson's clubhouse lead.

Having eagled the par-4 17th on Thursday, Henson made use of another booming drive Friday to set up an eagle three on the 576-yard par-5 8th, his penultimate hole. Starting on No. 10, the Swede had parred his first five holes before a run of three straight birdies just before the turn.

"I've hit probably more drives in the past two days than I have all season," he said. "The way I played I had plenty of chances and I could have been three or four shots better. But ... I'm not going to be complaining about 13 under."

Behind him, countryman Carlsson was well-set for a weekend challenge after six birdies and a single dropped shot put him on 135.

Bremner couldn't match the precision of his course record-equaling opening-round 64, dropping shots with a bogey and double bogey to go with four birdies so far in his incomplete second round.

Lloyd Saltman of Scotland was alone in fourth on 8 under after a 66, one ahead of two players in a tie for fifth: South African Oliver Bekker (69) and a third Swede, Michael Jonzon (69).

South African Open debutant Matthew Carvell was also 7 under but had only finished half his second round when a typical Highveld summer storm arrived on the eastern outskirts of Johannesburg in the mid-afternoon.