Shane Lowry wants Sunday showdown with Rory McIlroy

"It's up to me to get myself there. I'm pretty sure he'll get there."

Shane Lowry in coversation with caddy Darren Reynolds on the 9th fairway during day two of the Amgen Irish Open at the Royal County Down Golf Club. Picture: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile

What a difference 48 hours in professional golf can make. Shane Lowry arrived at the Amgen Irish Open underprepared and exhausted but after playing himself into contention over the first 36 holes, his attitude towards his chances at Royal County Down this week have transformed from dismal to gung-ho.

Lowry, the 2009 Irish Open winner as an amateur, was decidedly downbeat about his prospects for a repeat 15 years on when discussing them on the eve of the tournament and after a particularly trying nine holes of practice. Yet rounds of one-over-par 72 and Friday’s two-under 69 have got his week off to a morale-boosting start and put the major champion in a much better place ahead of Saturday’s third round, one under par and five strokes off the halfway lead held by Italy’s Mateo Manassero.