Lowry's pro debut over

Shane Lowry’s professional debut ended after only two days at the European Open today after he could add only a 73 to his opening 78 at the London Club.

Lowry said: “I played very well today, but didn’t hole a putt. My putting let me down – that’s the way it is and you have to deal with it.”

He will be at next week’s Wales Open and then the Open qualifier at Sunningdale on Monday week.

Peter Lawrie is still best of the Irish contingent even though he has yet to begin his second round.

He tees off later from five under par, three shots adrift of leader Michael Lorenzo-Vera.

Lowry's playing partner Anthony Wall celebrated his 34th birthday by staying in contention for the title, following up his 68 with a 69.

At seven under par, 15 better than the 22-year-old Irish Open winner, Wall went to lunch one behind l Lorenzo-Vera, who still had five to play.

Joint sixth in last week’s BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth last Sunday and winner of nearly £350,000 (€400,000) already this season, Wall had five successive birdies from the long 12th.

He began his run there by chipping to 18 inches, then sank putts of 14, eight and five feet before hitting a superb approach to 10 feet on the difficult 486-yard 16th. He finished disappointingly, however, with a bogey on the ninth.

The biggest shock of the morning was that Masters champion Angel Cabrera bogeyed five of his first seven holes, and at three over with three to play was almost certain to suffer his third missed cut in four events since he triumphed at Augusta.

Lee Westwood, who also crashed out early at Wentworth a week ago, was in danger of another early exit when he resumed with three bogeys in four holes.

He stood two over with two to go and the axe was expected to fall tonight at one or even two under.

Colin Montgomerie reached three under, but then double-bogeyed the 454-yard sixth, his 15th, while Rory McIlroy was alongside him at one under after 16 holes.

Sergio Garcia, runner-up to Ross Fisher last year and hoping to build on his opening 69, was among the later starters.