Shane Lowry takes British Open lead as Rory McIlroy, Tiger Woods miss cut
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Shane Lowry gestures by his ball in the rough on the sixth hole during the second round of the British Open.
PHOTO: REUTERS
TROON – Bouncing back even when things do not go as planned, that is one of the hallmarks of a champion.
On July 19, Shane Lowry, who won his sole Major at the British Open in 2019, recovered from a dramatic double bogey on the 11th that threatened to derail his charge to post a two-under round of 69.
The Irishman moved into the lead of the 152nd Open at seven-under 135 after his second round at Royal Troon, as Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods were among the star names to miss the cut.
Only 10 of the 80 players left in the field are under par as the blustery conditions on Scotland’s west coast wreaked havoc with five of the world’s top 10 failing to make the weekend.
Lowry leads by two from Justin Rose (68), who came through qualifying to book his place in Troon, and unheralded Englishman Daniel Brown (72) on his Major debut.
“To be leading this tournament after two days, it’s why you come here,” said the 37-year-old.
“The job tomorrow as well is to try to put myself in a position to win this tournament on Sunday.”
Lowry was on the charge as he hit the turn in 34, thanks to birdies on the first, fifth and eighth.
The world No. 33, though, was rocked as after a wayward tee shot at the 11th, he veered way left into thick bushes. Remarkably his ball was found, but deemed unplayable and forcing him to play a drop and lose two shots.
He bounced back impressively, picking up two shots in the final three holes.
“It was pretty good, but it was tough out there,” he added. “The wind wasn’t quite as strong as yesterday but it was still tricky. The 11th was a bit of a disaster but I handled that well and managed to finish nicely.”
Scottie Scheffler (70) has Lowry in his sights as the world No. 1 and Masters champion moved into a share of fourth at two under. PGA Championship winner Xander Schauffele is also in the running at one under.
Meanwhile, McIlroy’s decade-long wait to win a Major again will extend into 2025 at least after a disastrous two days to finish on 11 over.
The world No. 2 needed an under-par round after shooting 78 in the first round but carded a triple bogey at the fourth in a run of six dropped shots in four holes. The four-time Major winner finished on 75 for the day.
“That four-hole stretch to start off is what cost me,” said the Northern Irishman. “Twenty-two holes into the event and I’m thinking about where I’m going to go on vacation next week.”
Woods (77) was one of the few players to finish below McIlroy on 14 over. It will do little to quell doubts over whether he should continue to put a battered body through the strain of looking to add to his 15 Major titles.
“I just need to keep progressing like that and then eventually start playing more competitively,” he insisted.
US Open champion Bryson DeChambeau, Ludvig Aberg, Wyndham Clark and Viktor Hovland were the other top-10 players to miss the cut. AFP, REUTERS
