Bradley slips as others go low at the HSBC

Overcast skies and rain have been the scenario for most of the week in Shanghai at the World Golf Championship - HSBC Champions, providing the players with softer conditions in round two.

First round leader and reigning PGA Champion Keegan Bradley was unable to back up his first round score of 65, carding a 70 on the 'easier' conditions to slip down the leader board to solo fourth.

Three players that were able to take full advantage of the softer conditions were Louis Oosthuizen, Fredrik Jacobson and Adam Scott.

Oosthuizen, was able to fire at pins all round long and card an impressive nine-under 63, which was also good enough for low round of the day.

"If you're hitting good shots, you get rewarded," said Oosthuizen after his bogey free second round.

"There's a few holes where you can take it on or lay it up. Today, I really didn't take much risk. I just made the birdie putts."

Scott, who was playing alongside Bradley and Lee Westwood was the only player close enough to Oosthuizen to mount a charge.

Capping off his round with back-to-back birdies, the Aussie also carded six birdies on the front nine, including four straight from hole three to hole six en route to firing a seven-under, 65.

“I’m pleased to be in touch, but obviously scoring is low so I’m going to have to play well on the weekend to keep in touch,” Scott said in his post round press conference.

Jacobson, who now finds himself in the lead by one stroke over Oosthuizen, backed his opening round of 67 up with a bogey free six-under, 66.

He opened his round with four birdies on his front nine (starting on the back nine) including three in a row on holes 14 through 16.

Jacobson then cruised through his back nine with two more birdies on No. 7 and No 9. to cap of his round and take the 36 hole lead.

When he was asked about the low scores in round two in his post round press conference, Jacobson had this to day.

"I didn't see those kind of scores when I played my practice round before we had that rain. The greens were quite firm. They were in great shape."

"I think that they softened up a little bit and then we managed to stay away from the rain for most of the two days. It kind of opened up a little bit of an opportunity to make some more birdies."

The race is on now in Shanghai heading into the weekend, as there are nine players within four shots of Jacobson's lead.