Shane Lowry produced a course-record round on home soil at the Amgen Irish Open, surging to a three-shot lead as Rory McIlroy admitted to putting frustration after another 69.
Lowry combined nine birdies with a single bogey to card an eight-under 62 at Trump International Golf Links & Hotel, moving to 11 under and three clear of the next-best morning starters.
His nearest challengers from that group were Haotong Li and Jacob Skov Olesen, who shot 63 and 64 to finish at eight under, while Tom McKibbin was six back.
Patrick Reed entered the weekend at four under, with Jon Rahm and Robert MacIntyre one shot further back. McIlroy, the defending champion, was nine behind the halfway lead after a second successive 69 and struggled with his putting.
First-round leader Joaquin Niemann and England’s Tyrrell Hatton were among the later starters.
Lowry builds momentum on home soil
Lowry, who won this tournament in 2009 as a 22-year-old amateur, was playing in the group behind McIlroy and drew increasingly large crowds after three consecutive birdies from the third hole.
He sank a long putt at the seventh and added further birdies over the next two holes to race to the turn in 30. Back-to-back birdies from the 11th then briefly put Lowry in contention for a sub-60 round.
Lowry played alongside Patrick Reed (left) and Jon Rahm
Lowry’s challenge to a sub-60 score was halted by a three-putt bogey from 20 feet at the 13th, but he recovered by birdying the 15th before closing with three consecutive pars.
“It was real fun out there,” Lowry said. “I got off to a nice start and then I just kept going. I felt great out there. Just kept my foot on the gas and tried to keep hitting good shots and keep holing putts.”
McIlroy seeks better putting after frustrating round
McIlroy holed a birdie from off the second green but failed to capitalise on several opportunities on the front nine, including missing a close par save at the seventh after failing to get up and down from a bunker.
The Masters champion responded with a spectacular eagle at the par-five eighth, leaving his approach shot within two feet. He then dropped a sloppy bogey at the 11th before a three-putt on the final hole spoiled a long birdie chance at the 17th.
McIlroy is back as defending champion this week
“Frustration,” McIlroy said of his second round. “I just didn’t have it on the greens. I really struggled to read them. It’s hard whenever you struggle to read them.”
“It’s been a tough one on the greens the last two days, but tee to green I’ve actually been pretty happy with how everything else is. I just need to try to hole a few more over the weekend.”
MacIntyre shot a 65 to move to three under, while five-time major champion Koepka, who followed an opening 75 with a 66, remained one over and risked falling out of cut contention.
