By GB News (World News) | Created at 2026-09-12 08:30:50 | Updated at 2026-09-12 09:28:36
1 hour ago
Rory McIlroy was left frustrated by two problems at the Irish Open as Shane Lowry surged clear with a stunning course record at Trump International Golf Links, Doonbeg.
The defending champion signed for a second-round 69 on Friday but admitted his putter had failed to cooperate and that he was struggling to decipher the greens.
Conditions were noticeably kinder than during Thursday’s demanding opening round, giving McIlroy and the rest of the field a greater opportunity to attack the course.
Yet the Northern Irishman was unable to capitalise fully, leaving himself with considerable ground to recover over the weekend if he is to successfully defend his title.
McIlroy felt his long game had been sharp enough to produce a far lower score. It was on the greens where his momentum repeatedly stalled as other players took advantage of the improved weather.
“I felt like I hit it well enough to shoot a low one, but I just couldn’t get the putter going at all,” McIlroy conceded.
The career Grand Slam winner then highlighted a second issue, admitting he had found it difficult to judge the movement of the putting surfaces throughout his opening two rounds.
“It sort of, the last two days, the greens have confused me a little bit. Been struggling to read them,” he added.
Rory McIlroy was left frustrated by two problems at the Irish Open as Shane Lowry surged clear with a stunning course record at Trump International Golf Links, Doonbeg
GETTY
McIlroy will now be among the earlier starters on Saturday and hopes that finding the range with his putter can propel him back towards the leading group.
“Yeah, I just need to, I need to get a handle on the greens and start reading them a little bit better,” he said.
“But yeah, like I, you know, will get out early tomorrow, try to, um, try to make a few birdies and get myself up the leaderboard.”
While McIlroy was left reflecting on missed opportunities, Lowry delivered the performance of the day with a spectacular 62.
The former Open champion made nine birdies and suffered just one bogey as he reached 11 under par, placing him three strokes ahead of his nearest challenger at the time.
Lowry had begun the tournament with a 67 but adopted a more aggressive approach on Friday, racing through his opening nine holes with six birdies.
Three more followed after the turn and, for a period, an extraordinary sub-60 round appeared possible. Those hopes were damaged by a three-putt bogey at the 13th, although Lowry responded with another birdie two holes later before closing with three pars.
McIlroy welcomed the sight of Lowry and Tom McKibbin challenging near the summit, describing their presence as “great for the tournament”.
Shane Lowry has performed brilliantly at the Irish Open so far
GETTY
He was similarly impressed by the passionate home crowd, labelling the Irish supporters “very knowledgeable, very respectful” and “enthusiastic”.
McIlroy remains within striking distance, but his margin for error has narrowed following Lowry’s record-breaking charge.
The 37-year-old knows a fast start will be essential on Saturday.
Unless he solves the two problems that undermined his second round, however, his hopes of retaining the Irish Open crown could quickly disappear.
