WORLD CUP:IRELAND'S RORY McIlroy and Graeme McDowell are refusing to underestimate any of their rivals after the duo drew level with Australia at the top of the World Cup leaderboard at Mission Hills in China yesterday.

Australia’s Richard Green and Brendan Jones went into second round with a two-shot lead but two bogeys over the final four holes left them tied on 13 under par with Ireland, who carded a four-under 68 during the foursomes on the Blackstone course in Haikou.

“I’m not surprised to see Australia sharing the lead with us because every nation in this field has the chance of victory, so we will not be treating the Australians any less different to any of the other 26 nations,” McIlroy said.

Despite competing at the 28-team event without the likes of Adam Scott, Jason Day, Geoff Ogilvy or Aaron Baddeley, McDowell was quick to praise the two men who are representing Australia.

“Richard Green is a multiple winner on tour and we’ve played with Brendan many times, and he has a lot of Majors and world golf championship experience,” McDowell added.

“He’s played in Japan and won many times over there so like Rory said, we will be showing the Aussies every respect. Then there is also Scotland just one behind and looking at the board, and with two rounds to play, there’s 18 nations separated by just five shots,” he added.

“Among those is the United States, Spain and New Zealand just three behind and there’s England and Holland, with Joost (Luiten) in the team, who is in good form after winning last week, at nine under.

“Today, I struggled somewhat on the greens but overall I am happy with the way I am swinging the club in general while Rory is still playing lovely.”

Ireland are looking to win the World Cup for only a second time in 55 stagings of the €5.65 million event, whereas Australia have tasted success four times, with the last being in 1989.

Australia started well and moved three strokes clear of the field when they birdied the second and then eagled the sixth, but an “ugly” finish saw them fall back into a tie for the lead.

“The 18th is a very difficult finishing hole but it wasn’t just 18 because we bogeyed 15 as well and we struggled for pars on 16 and 17, so it was a bit of an ugly finish, but the important thing for us is that we are still at the top,” Jones said.

“We could not win the tournament today but we sure could have fallen back in the field. So to be in the position we are in, we will take the positives out of that and try and get some rhythm back in our game, and play a more attacking game.”

The Scottish duo of Martin Laird and Stephen Gallacher had the chance to join the leaders but bogeyed the last for a score of 69 to sit alone in third at 12-under par.

Scotland is seeking to capture the World Cup for a second time following the country’s maiden victory in 2007.

“It always leaves a sour taste in the mouth when you drop a shot at the last in any event but Martin and myself overall are in a better position,” Gallacher said.

The US team of Matt Kuchar and Gary Woodland did not drop a shot in their round of 70 with the latter full of praise after organisers invited each and every American present at the venue to a lavish Thanksgiving dinner the night before.

“It was nice as we are all a long way from home and it was great to get together with a bunch of friends and celebrate a little bit of Thanksgiving,” Woodland said.

“But I’ve never had karaoke at Thanksgiving, so that was something new.”