Lowry has weekend motivation in Shanghai

It’s a long shot now but Shane Lowry can still qualify for the season-ending Dubai World Championship.

Lowry heading to Japan or DubaiThe Irish Open champion followed his opening 66 with a second round 74 to slip from second to 14th in the WGC-HSBC Champions in Shanghai.

Tiger Woods (67) and Nick Watney (70) lead by a shot on 10 under par from Phil Mickelson (66), Ryan Moore (69) and Alvaro Quiros (66).

But Lowry, who is 163rd in the Race to Dubai, can still earn enough cash to move into the top 60 who will qualify for the final event of the season if he finishes second.

The Clara man is currently €405,945 outside the qualifying places but at four-under par, he can still make a huge cheque and then add to it at next week’s Hong Kong Open.

If Lowry fails to move into the top 60, he is still guaranteed tournament action in two weeks’ time as he has secured an invitation for the Dunlop Phoenix Tournament in Japan.

Padraig Harrington’s Race to Dubai hopes are almost certainly over now despite a second round 69 that moved him into red figures on one-under.

However, Rory McIlroy is well placed to gain more ground on his Race to Dubai rivals after a second round 68 left him tied for 23rd on three-under.

Money list leader Lee Westwood is also on three under after a 71 while second placed Martin Kaymer did the same as Lowry and followed his opening 66 with a 74 to slip back to four under.