Lowry in a tie for lead in Orlando
SHANE LOWRY holds a share of the lead heading into the weekend at the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
Lowry birdied the 18th hole to sign for a one-under-par 71, which left him in a six-way tie for the lead in Orlando.
The Irishman, who had led by a shot after posting a 66 on Thursday, picked up five birdies in total but dropped four shots in his second round.
He was caught on seven under by Americans Scottie Scheffler, Wyndham Clark, Brian Harman and Russell Henley, as well as Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama.
World number one Scheffler was level par after a bogey on the 11th hole but an eagle at the par-five 12th and a hat-trick of birdies starting from the 15th vaulted him into contention.
Northern Ireland’s Rory Mcilroy is six shots back after posting a two-under 70.
But England’s Tommy Fleetwood missed the cut after a wretched day.
He found water three times on the par-five sixth for a quintuple-bogey 10, and ended his round eight over par.
Meanwhile, Jon Rahm endured a horror finish to his opening round at LIV Golf Hong Kong after the Masters champion ended yesterday’s play with a triple-bogey seven.
It had been a near-perfect round to that point, with the Spaniard going bogey-less through his opening 17 holes, carding six birdies to leave him in a perfect spot heading to the final hole of the day.
Then, after an errant tee shot, Rahm found himself stood on the 18th fairway playing his fifth but hit a superb approach in to give him a chance to limit the damage.
Clearly frustrated, the Legion XIII captain went on to miss the double bogey putt, forcing him to settle for a seven, the only blemish on what looked set to be a superb start to the tournament.