Lowry survives late wobble but McIlroy rally falls agonisingly short

Shane Lowry survived alate-round wobble and some high-volume commentary from a giant TV screen to put himself in pole position at the halfway stage of The 148th Open as Rory McIlroy’s late charge to the make the cut came up agonisingly short.

It was a day of highemotions at a soggy Royal Portrush, both Irishmen roared on by a passionate home, sell-out crowd, Lowry shot a four-under-par 67 to take a share of the 36-hole lead with American J.B. Holmes at eight under par while McIlroy’s magnificent, gutsy 65 was one shot too many, the world number three paying the price for his opening 79 and missing the cut by one.