Big man in mood but big names head for the exit
Even without the heavy rain and the deep rough that caused havoc here in 2005 and 2006, the Montgomerie Course claimed the scalps of five of the six headline stars that adorn the publicity hoardings for a €2 million event that simply cannot fail if those who control the purse strings are to remain convinced that it can continue without a title sponsor.
As a crowd of 21,377 took the week’s attendance to an acceptable 40,000 plus — down 10,000 on Royal Portrush’s record gate but slightly ahead of Killarney in 2011 — only Lowry managed to live up to his star billing as just eight of Ireland’s 27 starters made the level-par cut.
“Will Irish Eyes Be Smiling?” asks the banner that clads the first tee. Only Lowry, it appears, has a realistic chance of making that come true.
The 26-year-old added a two-under 70 to his opening 68 to go into the weekend in a five-way tie for third on the course he now calls home, just two shots behind American rookie Peter Uihlein (68) and England’s Robert Rock (66), the man he beat in that unforgettable three-hole play-off at Baltray to claim the Irish Open as an amateur in 2009.
Take Lowry out of the equation and the devastation caused by yesterday’s 25mph winds was considerable.
World No 2 McIlroy is facing questions about his commitment in some media quarters after confessing that he had too many extra-curricular activities to perform over the next week to add the French Open to his schedule and get some much needed competitive practice under his belt before the British Open at Muirfield in a fortnight.
The Co Down man added a level-par 72 to his opening 74 to miss the cut by two shots and will watch on the sidelines with fellow Major winners Pádraig Harrington and Graeme McDowell, who shot 74s to miss by one, as well as Darren Clarke and Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley.
“I’m fine, I’m okay, I’m more disappointed for the tournament than myself,” McIlroy insisted.
Under pressure after his opening 74, McIlroy hit just nine fairways in two days and also finished near the bottom of the putting charts after using the blade 32 times yesterday.
His biggest problem is that he still has work to do to find the perfect Nike driver after admitting that he’s struggling with his swing and not 100% happy with the current weapon in his bag.
“This was a new driver in the bag this week and still wasn’t 100% what I want, so I’m testing with Nike again next week. I’ll hit one really good and the next not so much. That’s a combination of maybe the driver not being 100% right for me, and my swing not being where it should be.
“It’s definitely more swing than it is club.”
McDowell and Harrington never got anything going as they finished on one over par after carding matching 74s.
“I played very averagely and putted worse,” McDowell said. “I couldn’t get the speed of the greens and I’m not quite on with my golf swing. I don’t want to be missing cuts any week, let alone the Irish Open.”
Harrington was always on the back foot on the greens, missing birdie chances inside 10 feet at his first, third and fourth holes.
A three-putt bogey at the 14th, his fifth, left him near the cut mark and when he bunkered his approach to the 16th and missed another 10-footer, he was on his way out.
Ryder Cup skipper McGinley missed out on four over after a 76 with former British Open champion Clarke well off the pace on six over after a pair of 75s.
Lowry was only a 22-year-old amateur when he famously lifted this title four years ago. But this is a new level of responsibility.
“Mentally I was very good today,” he said. “I didn’t get down on myself, just dug it out and I managed to finish birdie, birdie for 70, which I’m actually chuffed about.”
Lowry is tied for third with overnight leader Oscar Floren (71), Dutchman Joost Luiten (70), former champion Jose Maria Olazabal (69) and Portugal’s Ricardo Santos (66), with Scotland’s Scott Henry in a three-way tie for eighth on six under after a best of the week 64.
Joint leader Rock hit an eagle and four birdies in an error-free 66 to match Uihlein on nine under, but even though he beat Tiger Woods down the stretch to win in Abu Dhabi last year, he doesn’t fancy taking on Lowry on his home patch.
“I’ll never forget that day playing with Shane,” Rock said, recalling the highly partisan crowd. “That was really, really tough.
“That was probably harder almost than beating Tiger, because I did feel like I had some people on my side in Abu Dhabi. At Baltray I don’t even think there was one.”
Gareth Shaw, Simon Thornton, Alan Dunbar, Damian Mooney, Michael Hoey, Peter Lawrie and West Waterford’s Seamus Power all joined Lowry for the weekend but there were many disappointed faces.
Limerick’s Cian McNamara followed his 68 with a 78 to miss the cut by two shots alongside Rory McIlroy. Little comfort, perhaps, but an indication that golf is a great leveller.
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