Birdie blitz sees Shane Lowry charge into the lead at Irish Open

HOME COMFORT: Shane Lowry celebrates after a birdie on the seventh. Pic: INPHO/Ben Brady

Shane Lowry has brought memories of his memorable 2009 Irish Open win flooding back at this year’s tournament with a blistering front nine on Friday.

The Offaly man was two shots behind overnight leader Joaquin Niemann after an opening three-under 67 and he has followed it up with a blistering six birdies before the turn.

He covered the first half of this Trump International Golf Links and Hotel course without a dropped shot, in six-under par, to streak into a four-shot lead approaching lunchtime.

Lowry memorably shot a blistering 62 in the second round of the Irish Open 17 years ago when, still an amateur, and went on to claim the title at a stormy Baltray.

It could get better yet for him on a back nine that was brutally difficult and mostly into the big wind in round one but which is playing much more benignly today.

Northern Ireland’s Tom McKibbin and US superstar Patrick Reed are closest to home right now, on five-under par, as they negotiate a far more gettable course than had been the case on day one.

The wind has dropped considerably after Thursday’s gusts and the sun was dappling the West Clare coastline and dunes as fans shed their rain macks and the lucky few slapped on the sun cream.

All of that was reflected in the scoring with just four players over-par - and barely at that - well after the turn into noon.

Rory McIlroy is one-under for the day, two-under for the tournament, and seven shots off Lowry through 11 holes.