( CNN ) -- With arrow straight driving , big hitting Dustin Johnson powered his way clear of the field at the WGC-HSBC Champions in Shanghai Friday while first round leader Rory McIlroy paid the price for wayward play from tee to green on his back nine . Texan Johnson overpowered the Sheshan International course with a nine-under 63 to go five clear of McIlroy and fellow Americans Bubba Watson and Boo Weekley on 12-under 132 after two rounds . Johnson 's playing partner Graeme McDowell -- still in the hunt on six-under -- could only look on in wonder . `` I 've probably seen 18 of the best drives I 've seen all year in the last two days , '' he remarked during their round . `` I really drove the ball well , '' Johnson told the official PGA Tour website . `` For me , that 's a big key . '' He picked up six birdies in his opening seven holes and after completing a front nine of 30 held it together to come home in 33 . McIlroy , hunting his first tournament win of 2013 , also made a fast start with three birdies on the front nine to build on his first round 65 . But coming home it all went wrong for the 24-year-old Northern Irishman -- let down by errant tee shots and approach play to give up three shots to par . Finding the water on the par-five 18th with his approach shot , McIlroy made a disappointing bogey to finish on level par 72 . `` I just hit a couple of bad shots , and then I guess I let it affect me a little bit , and then I started to doubt myself sometimes , '' McIlroy said . `` I did n't hit a lot of quality shots on the back nine . '' He was joined in joint second place by Weekley ( 67 ) and Watson ( 69 ) , the 2012 Masters champion a crowd pleaser on his first trip to China . `` Everything about the trip has been beautiful . Malaysia last week ( CIMB Classic ) and then here . It 's perfect , '' he said . McDowell , second in the European Tour 's Race to Dubai , shot a second straight 69 to share fifth with England 's Tommy Fleetwood and Ian Poulter , Spanish pair Sergio Garcia and Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano and South African great Ernie Els . British Open champion Phil Mickelson was back on five under with U.S. Open winner Justin Rose . `` I 'm making a lot of birdies , '' Mickelson said . `` But I 've had too many mistakes , '' he admitted . Swede Henrik Stenson , who is leading the Race to Dubai , was completely out of sorts and shot a four-over 76 to stand six-over and in 70th out of the 78-man field .
Dustin Johnson takes halfway lead at Sheshan International in Malaysia . Shoots course record equaling 63 at HSBC Champions . First round leader Rory McIlroy falls back into tie for second . Americans Open champion Dustin Johnson seven shots adrift .