Lowry regroups and ready to ‘make a charge’

Shane Lowry’s hopes of staying with the leaders suffered a setback at Royal Liverpool, but the way he recovered from a mid-round meltdown gives him a fighting chance of climbing back into contention.

Lowry had started his second round at The Open as the best-placed Irishman to chase down overnight leader and compatriot Rory McIlroy thanks to a four-under-par 68 that left him just two shots behind the Holywood golfer after 18 holes.

That had left the in-form two-time European Tour winner cautiously optimistic of his prospects for the rest of the week before disaster struck midway through his second round yesterday, a five over par run over three holes before the turn sending him plummeting down the leaderboard.