In-form Lowry sets sizzling pace at Bay Hill
SHANE LOWRY was a happy man last night as he took the clubhouse lead in the €18 million Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill. A fine 153-yard wedge shot over water set him up for a birdie on the last, snatching the lead.
It has been five years since the Offaly man won a PGA Tour event – the 2019 Open – and two years since his last at the 2022 BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth, so he was not getting ahead of himself.
‘I’m pretty happy to be where I am right now’, he said.
‘Obviously, there’s no trophies given out (on a Friday), so I’ll just dig in over the weekend and see where it leaves me come Sunday.’
Rory McIlroy bounced back from his opening round 73 to shoot a two under par 70 and make the weekend cut.
The four-time major champion had to work hard however, dropping shots on four holes before he rallied to complete his round with six birdies.
‘I felt my speed was just a bit off more than anything,’ McIlroy said.
‘The greens look faster than what they are, so just trying to be a little more assertive with my speeds.’
Meanwhile, Stephanie Meadow was riding high in sixth place after the second round of the USLPGA tour event in Jian Lake Blue Bay in China. Meadow shot a 68 to go with her opening 70, leaving her three behind leaders Sarah Schmelzel of the US and South Korea’s Na-Rin An. Co Down golfer Tom McKibbin is on course to challenge for a second professional title after signing for a 64 at the Jonsson Workwear Open in South Africa.
McKibbin, who claimed his first win on the European Tour at the Porsche European Open in Germany last June, is in third place, three behind Matteo Manassero who carded a brilliant bogey-free 61 to surge to the top of the leaderboard after 36 holes.
The Italian made two eagles and seven birdies in his lowest round on the Europe-based circuit to get to 15 under as he continues to rebuild what was once one of the most promising careers in the game.
He is the youngest winner in DP World Tour history after lifting the trophy at the 2010 Castello Masters when he was aged just 17 years and 188 days but has not tasted victory since claiming his fourth title at the 2013 BMW PGA Championship.
In the nearly 11 years since his win at Wentworth, he even lost his playing privileges, but two victories on the second-tier Challenge Tour last season have seen him return to the top table.
‘This is a long road and of course I’m happy with a round like this but it’s today, tomorrow’s tomorrow and I don’t look behind very much, even if we tend to sometimes,’ said the now 30-year-old.‘So I just look ahead and try to improve the process, get better and see what comes.’
He was 11 under after 15 holes in his second round but could not pick up any more birdies in his quest for a 59 – although the record would not have been official with preferred lies in place.
South African Oliver Bekker was his nearest challenger, a shot clear of McKibbin’s group.