‘Stupidity’ proves so costly for Offaly ma

Shane Lowry cut a disconsolate figure at Pinehurst No 2 as he pored over the wreckage of a nightmare back nine that cost him a weekend place at the US Open.

Picking up from his first-round three-over-par 73, the Offaly man was one under for his second round yesterday in North Carolina as he reached the turn, sitting pretty with the projected cutline falling at five over par.

Then things went awry with a bogey at the par-four 11th and a double bogey at the par-four 16th sending him into dangerous waters that left him needing at least par to stay afloat on five over.